Tension in Taraba as TSIEC Rejects APC Candidate List Ahead of LG Polls

Tensions are mounting in Taraba State’s political space ahead of the forthcoming local government elections, following reports that the State Independent Electoral Commission, TSIEC, has rejected the list of candidates submitted by the All Progressives Congress, APC.

The rejected list, which reportedly contained the names of APC chairmanship and councillorship candidates for all sixteen local government areas, was formally presented by the party’s state secretary.

However, according to the APC, the TSIEC Chairman allegedly declined to accept the submission—an action the opposition party described as a deliberate attempt to exclude it from the polls.

Speaking in a telephone interview, the APC State Chairman, Ibrahim El-Sudi, condemned the development and accused the electoral body of colluding with the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to weaken opposition voices.

“We will take legal action to stop the election if our candidates are not acknowledged. The PDP is clearly afraid of a fair contest and is using TSIEC to sabotage the democratic process.

I have respect for the TSIEC Chairman, but his role in this matter shows he is no longer neutral,” El-Sudi stated.

The APC further alleged that the rejection of its candidate list was a calculated move to pave the way for a one-party contest in favour of the PDP.

Efforts to reach the TSIEC Chairman for his response proved unsuccessful.

However, a senior official of the commission told reporters that the body was working tirelessly to ensure a hitch-free contest across the sixteen LGAs.