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Real reason why PDP is not participating in November 2 LG polls in Nasarawa

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Real reason has emerged on why the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may not participate in the November 2, 2024, local government election.

Investigation reveals that presently, the Francis Orogu leadership is embroiled in an internal squabble with members of the PDP, which has resulted in a high court order barring the party from holding its congresses.

Recall that only recently, the PDP said it will not participate in the scheduled November 2 local government election, citing amongst other excuses, alleged excessive charges for nomination form by the Nasarawa State Independent Electoral Commission (NASIEC).

The PDP alleged that the state electoral body is unmindful of the harsh prevailing economic challenges in the country by demanding that aspirants pay N1.5m for registration.

Orogu also accused the NASIEC of not giving the opposition parties substantial reasons to build confidence in the credibility and fairness of the election.

Findings however revealed that the Orogu led leadership of the party is seeking to self-perpetuate in office through the imposition of a lacky to succeed him as the state chairman, following the epiration of his tenure.

This move by the PDP state chairman is not going unchallenged as 16 members of the party, led by Senator Mohammed Ogoshi Onawo, representing Nasarawa South at the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly have gone to court to obtain an order stopping Orogu from going ahead to conduct congresses for the party where he expects to install his cronies.

Contrary to Orogu’s claim that NASIEC is charging aspirants exorbitantly by demanding chairmanship candidates to pay N1.5m, in states like Kano, chairmanship candidates paid N10m.

Boxed in by the high court order halting the party from conducting its congresses, which was further extended by Justice Abdullahi Shams-Shammah of the High Court in Doma, Orogu saw a way out of the party’s predicament by laying false claims against the NASIEC.

It is also on record that, in a pre-emptive manner, the PDP deliberately refused to participate in any of the activities organized by the NASIEC, especially its meeting with the members of Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC), where political parties engage with the electoral body as part of the line of activities leading to the council elections.

Blinded by his selfish ambition to manipulate the planned congresses of the PDP in favour of David Ombugadu, Orogu appears determined to go ahead with the congresses in total violation of the court order.

Instead of telling the truth, which is that he is willing to sacrifice the chances of the PDP in the coming council polls, Orogu instead embarked on a campaign of calumny against NASIEC ostensibly to discredit the exercise.

However, a cursory look into the affairs of the party, showed that presently, the PDP in Nasarawa State lacks even the capacity to participate in the council elections because of the stalemate following the court order halting the party’s congresses.

The alleged outcry over the high cost of registration against the NASIEC is therefore a smokescreen intended to mislead the gullible, since even if the electoral body waves away the registration charges, the PDP may not be able to participate in the election because of the pending court order.

It’s on record that the Chairman of the Nasarawa State Independent Electoral Commission, Barrister Ayuba Usman Wandai has been engaging with critical stakeholders including political parties, security agencies and the media, towards ensuring that the November 2 polls are conducted peacefully and in order.

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