KD LG Polls: PDP Urges KAD-SIECOM To Adhere Strictly To Relevant Laws
BY AMOS TAUNA, KADUNA – The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Zangon Kataf Local Government Area chapter, has urged the Kaduna State Independent Elections Commission (KAD-SIECOM) to ensure strict adherence to the relevant laws of the state and country in all the processes towards the conduct of elections in the state.
This is as the party assured of its participation in the forthcoming Local Government elections if its demands are met.
A communique issued at the end of the stakeholders meeting of the party signed by Dr John M. Ayuba and Yusuf Kantiok, Chairman and Secretary respectively of the stakeholders, said after observing many violations of the law by the ‘overseer’ of the SIECOM, declared their total support for the decision of the party’s leadership at the state to challenge in court.
It said the notice of the 2021 Local Government Council elections in Kaduna State announced by the ‘Overseer’ of the Kaduna State Independent Electoral Commission (KAD-SIECOM), purportedly in consonance with section 25(1) of Kaduna State Independent Electoral Commission Law No. 2, 2018, which is still the subsisting law.
The stakeholders observed that according to the Section 25 (1); “The Commission shall not later than ninety days (90) days before the day appointed for holding of an election under the Law publish a notice in each Local Government Area”.
The meeting noted that a careful examination of the of the notice of election issued on 15th February, 2021 and the day appointed for holding the election which is 15th May, 2021 is eighty nine (89) days, not ninety (90) days, as the “Overseer” is trying to hoodwink the people of Kaduna state into believing, adding that the notice contravenes the provisions of the law, and therefore, null and void.
It added that the title Overseer is also unknown to the KAD-SIECOM Law 2018, saying that the law recognizes only a Chairman while provisions of section 4 of the Kaduna State Independent Electoral Commission Law No. 2, 2018 states in subsection (2), that the Commission shall comprise of the a Chairman; and not less than five but not more than seven other persons as members.
It noted that presently, the KAD-SIECOM comprises of only two members, adding that it is right to say that, currently the Kaduna State Independent Electoral Commission is non-existent and for that reason, the “Overseer” who is not the Chairman or whosoever lacks the authority and powers to issue a notice of election.
The meeting therefore resolved that the Notice issued by the “Overseer” is unconstitutional, against the law and illegal.
