As the Abia State local government elections draw near, the People's Democratic Party (PDP) has signified its participation, while the All Progressives Congress (APC) remains silent about its involvement.
Dr. Alwell Asiforo Okere, the Caretaker Chairman of the PDP in the state, confirmed on Friday, September 27, that the party will be presenting candidates for the election.
Speaking at a PDP stakeholders meeting in Umuahia, the capital of Abia State, Dr. Okere acknowledged that even though the party did not win last year's gubernatorial election, it continues to hold significant influence in the region.
He stated that the PDP, with 12 lawmakers holding the majority in the State House of Assembly compared to the Labour Party's 11, is the favored contender and the party to trust in any election.
He announced that the party's nomination forms for chairmanship aspirants are set at N200,000, while those for councillorship will cost N25,000.
Also, to promote greater female participation in the electoral process, he mentioned that interested women candidates will only need to pay 50% of the nomination fees for any positions they seek.
He explained that this initiative seeks to encourage more women to participate in the elections and make their voices heard, thereby promoting inclusivity and diversity in the political arena.
Dr. Okere urged the Abia State Independent Electoral Commission (ABSIEC) to ensure a fair playing field for all parties and to resist any pressures that might lead to manipulation.
The Caretaker Chairman encouraged interested party members to visit the party's secretariat to obtain their expression of interest and nomination forms.
As of this report, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has not disclosed its stance on the local government elections, leaving uncertainty about its participation in the upcoming polls.
However, the conflict over the state party chairmanship in the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), involving Sunday Onukwubiri and Onuoha Egbe, raises significant concerns that could potentially impact their participation in the upcoming elections.
According to the election timetable issued by Prof. George Chima, Chairman of ABSIEC, all political parties in the state intending to participate in the polls must finalize their primaries and internal candidate selections between September 24 and October 2.
