Katsina LG Poll: Shema commends election commission

Governor Ibrahim Shema of Katsina State has commended the State Independent Electoral Commission (KTSIEC) for conducting a “peaceful, free and fair” local government election on Saturday.

Shema made the commendation in Dutsin-ma shortly after casting his ballot at the Shema polling unit in Shema ward.

He said that the commission was very proactive in both the preparations and conduct of the elections, which according to him, led to the success of the exercise.

The governor also said that the commission acted fairly for giving 95 days notice for the polls instead of the 21 days contained in the state’s law.

He said that the gesture was to address complaints earlier raised by the opposition parties about the inadequate number of days allocated for the election.

Shema also said that SIEC slashed fees for nomination forms by 50 per cent to enable the parties to field their candidates for the election.

He, however, expressed regret that APC and PDM did not avail themselves of the gesture as they went ahead and boycotted the election.

“Contest in an election is voluntary; nobody can force any political party to partake or opt out of the election; we have given them all the chances to participate,” the governor said.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) is boycotting the election and has filed a suit challenging the exercise at a High Court.