Isiyaku Ahmed
A faction of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kano State has declared its preparedness to partake in the forthcoming council poll.
Addressing newsmen at a press conference in Kano on Wednesday at the PDP Executive Committee Office, off Haj Camp, the Party Chairman, Dala Local Government and Interim State Chairman, Muhammina Bako Lamido said: “PDP will soon unveil it’s 44 Chairmanship and 484 aspirants for the seat of Councilors for the council poll slated for 16th January 2021.”
Lamido said the attention of the PDP interim Administrative Committee has been drawn to a media statement accredited to Hon Daladi Abdulhamid of the Kwankwasiyya faction in which he said: “PDP does not have candidates and may not partake in the forthcoming local government elections in Kano State,” this is far from the truth, he declared.
For the avoidance of doubt, the PDP in Kano State did not authorize the statement and Abdulhamid does not possess the standing and mandate to make such statement, he said.
He added that as matters stand, the only organ of PDP with the power to act under section 24(2)(b) of the PDP Constitution, is the State Executive Committee which he (Muhammina Bako Lamido) is the Chairman.
He also said preparations for participation in the election are on top gear and the committee shall in due course inform the public and Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC) of its candidates.
He called on KANSIEC to consider reducing the cost of the application forms for candidates in the election in order to make form affordable to opposition parties’ candidates.
Lamido advised that the state should not be turned into a one-party state with the attendant consequences.
Fielding questions from journalists, on PDP has confident in KANSIEC to conduct a free, fair and credible election, he took a position that “confidence or no confidence, it is a matter of contest and it is what transpired during the election that would prove the matter of free and fair election.”
On the reduction of cost of application form, he responded that PDP can afford any rate but the call is in the interest of other political parties’ candidates and for providing a level playing field and opening of the political space.
Recall that Hon Danladi Abdulhameed of the Kwankwasiyya of PDP on Tuesday announced their intention to boycott the poll, asserting that the process had already been compromised by the state governor.
He also accused Kano state government of undue interference which has already predetermined the outcome of the poll.
Lamido who is leading the Ambassador Aminu Wali’s faction of PDP, debunked the position of Hon Abdulhameed, adding that Kwakwasiyya is a movement, not a political party and has no right to speak on-behalf of PDP.
