PDP Withdraws Participation In Borno Council Poll

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Borno has withdrawn its participation in the state’s local government elections scheduled for today, citing a lack of trust in the electoral body and the high cost of expression of interest and nomination forms.

A statement issued on Friday by the party’s publicity secretary, Amos Adziba, said the decision was reached at a recent State Executive Committee (SEC) meeting held in Maiduguri.
Titled “Why we’re boycotting Borno LG polls”, the statement alleged that the Borno State Independent Electoral Commission (BOSIEC) did not provide opposition parties with sufficient reasons to trust the credibility and fairness of the elections.

“The leading opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Borno State won’t participate in the December 13, 2025, local government elections in the state because of the high cost of expression of interest and nomination forms as well as lack of trust in the electoral body,” the statement read.

In a communique issued after the meeting, Adziba listed several reasons for the withdrawal, including distrust of BOSIEC and the ruling All Progressives Congress.

He said, “The BOSIEC did not give the opposition parties substantial reasons to build confidence in the credibility and fairness of the election.

“PDP alleged that the state electoral body is unmindful of the harsh prevailing economic challenges in the country by demanding high purchase of expression of interest and nomination forms.”

Another concern raised by the party was the failure of the government to amend the electoral bill to allow councillorship election results to be announced at the ward level and chairmanship results at local government headquarters.

“Since the state government has not amended the bill, it means that it will be business as usual for the APC to ambush other political parties with electoral frauds,” he said.