SDP Urges PLASIEC to review cost of nomination forms for October 9th LG Polls

 

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has urged the Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission (PLASIEC) to review downward the cost of nomination forms for candidates of Political Parties who intend to participate in the October 9th 2024 Local Government Elections in Plateau State.

According to the party, the review would give intending political parties the opportunity to effectively sponsor their candidates in accordance with the constitutional rights of the parties and their candidates, adding that the current charges of may deny political parties the opportunity to participate in the process of strengthening democracy at the grassroot level. 

In a statement issued by the SDP Chairman, Plateau State Mr Abubakar Dogara in Jos on Tuesday 23rd July 2024, the party said that the current PLASIEC nomination charges may impede the commendable efforts made by the commission aimed at delivering credible, free and fair council elections, adding that the exorbitant charges may water down the credibility of the polls. 

The party called on PLASIEC to reconsider and review the charges to a more considerable rate to encourage increased participation by political parties in the October 9th 2024 Council polls.

The statement concluded by stressing that the current leadership of PLASIEC being serious-minded and listening will do the needful and will not tow the path the previous administration.

The statement is presented as received; 

"SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY (SDP)"

"23/6/2024"

"PRESS STATEMENT"

"A CALL FOR THE REVIEW OF PLASIEC CHARGES"

"Ahead of the October 9th 2024 Local Government Elections in Plateau State, we wish to call the attention of the Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission not to impede the result oriented impact they hove so far initiated and demonstrated by engaging various stakeholders within Plateau State, in the last few weeks with the view to deliver  credible , free and fair Local Council polls."

"One of the greatest challenge facing most political parties like the Social Democratic Party is funding. Hence fixing exorbitant fees to be paid by candidates of political parties who wish to participate is a disadvantage and a way of telling off opposition parties from the polls, hence reducing the credibility of the elections."

"It is on this note that we wish to state categorically that the One Million Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira N1, 250, 000 fee pegged for the Chairmanship Candidates and Six Hundred Thousand Naira (N600,000) for Councilorship candidates of  political parties who wish to participate poses a huge challenge to their participation, there by denying political parties and their candidates their constitutional rights to participate in elections."

"It on this note that we, the SDP are calling on the Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission to reconsider the current fees and review them to a more considerate rate to encourage all political parties to participate in the October 9th 2024 Local Elections." 

"We believe that the current leadership of PLASIEC is serious minded and listening,  and as such will not tow the path of the previous leadership, hence we urge the leadership to reconsider her stance and review the fees in the interest of the growth and development of grassroot democracy."

"Long Live the Plateau State,

Long Life the Federal Republic of Nigeria"

'Hon Abubakar Dogara, 

SDP Chairman, Plateau State and

Ag. National Vice Chairman, 

North Central, 

Social Democratic Party (SDP)"