The Kebbi State Independent Electoral Commission (KESIEC) announced on Sunday that the All Progressives Congress (APC) won all contested positions in the recent local council elections held on Saturday.
Alhaji Aliyu Muhammad-Mera, the Chairman of KESIEC, declared the APC victorious in all 21 chairmanship and 225 councillorship seats across the state.
Speaking in Birnin Kebbi, Muhammad-Mera confirmed that 17 political parties, including the APC, New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Labour Party (LP), African Action Congress (AAC), Boot Party, Action Peoples Party (AP), and Social Democratic Party (SDP), among others, participated in the elections.
He stated that the Commission ratified and adopted the chairmanship results as announced by the Returning Officers of the respective local government areas and councillorship results as declared at the electoral wards.
Muhammad-Mera expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the elections, describing them as peaceful and free of disruptions.
He extended gratitude to the security agencies and other stakeholders for their crucial roles in ensuring a smooth electoral process.
“The exercise was peaceful and hitch-free,” he remarked, commending the collaborative efforts that contributed to the orderly environment during the polls.
However, the election was not without its controversies.
The main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), boycotted the elections, citing concerns over the impartiality of the KESIEC leadership.
The PDP had previously alleged that KESIEC’s chairman, Alhaji Aliyu Muhammad-Mera, along with other key commissioners, were active members of the APC, raising questions about the Commission’s ability to conduct fair elections.
The PDP’s decision to withdraw from the elections was rooted in their belief that the electoral process was compromised from the outset.
Party officials argued that the leadership of KESIEC was inherently biased, undermining the possibility of a level playing field for all participating parties.
In a statement released ahead of the polls, the PDP asserted that “the Commission’s leadership, being card-carrying members of the APC, will not in any way be fair to opposition parties.”
This accusation reflects the deep-seated mistrust between the opposition and the electoral body, fuelling scepticism about the credibility of the results.
The controversy surrounding KESIEC’s impartiality is not new.
Allegations of partisanship have been a recurrent theme in Nigeria’s local elections, where the autonomy of state electoral commissions is often questioned.
Critics argue that the close ties between state governments and electoral commissions compromise the integrity of the electoral process, leading to outcomes that heavily favour ruling parties.
In Kebbi State, these concerns have been amplified by the PDP’s outright rejection of the electoral process, which they claim was skewed to ensure an APC victory from the onset.
Despite these allegations, KESIEC maintained that the elections were conducted transparently and in accordance with established guidelines.
Muhammad-Mera reiterated the Commission’s commitment to upholding democratic principles and ensuring that the voice of the electorate is respected.
He dismissed the claims of bias as unfounded, emphasising that the election results reflected the will of the people of Kebbi State.
The comprehensive victory of the APC, however, has been met with mixed reactions.
While supporters of the party celebrated the outcome as a validation of the APC’s popularity and governance in the state, opposition parties and some civil society organisations have called for a closer scrutiny of the electoral process.
They argue that the absence of a significant opposition presence on the ballot, particularly with the PDP’s boycott, undermines the legitimacy of the results and fails to provide a true measure of the electorate’s preferences.
In light of the disputes and allegations, there are calls for electoral reforms to enhance the independence of state electoral bodies.
Advocates suggest that greater autonomy and accountability measures are needed to restore public confidence in the electoral process, particularly at the local level where governance directly impacts the daily lives of citizens.
As Kebbi State moves forward with the APC firmly in control of local councils, the lingering questions about electoral fairness and the role of state electoral commissions continue to resonate.
The events in Kebbi highlight the broader challenges facing Nigeria’s democratic institutions, where the interplay of politics and governance often complicates the pursuit of a truly representative and fair electoral system.
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