The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has dramatically withdrawn from the ongoing local government elections in Borno State, accusing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of bias and alleging a premeditated plot by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to rig the polls through violence and intimidation.
The decision, announced on Friday, marks a significant escalation in the tensions surrounding the December 11 elections across Nigeria’s 774 local government areas. PDP’s Borno State chapter cited a litany of irregularities, including the late arrival of electoral materials in PDP strongholds, the exclusion of party agents from key polling units, and brazen attacks on opposition supporters.
In a strongly worded statement signed by PDP State Chairman, Hon. Muhammad Zanna, the party detailed its grievances. “We have decided to withdraw our candidates from all the 27 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Borno State with immediate effect,” Zanna declared. He lambasted INEC for what he called “glaring bias” against the opposition, pointing to the commission’s failure to address reported infractions.
Zanna highlighted specific incidents of violence, including the killing of a PDP supporter in Jere Local Government Area. “Our members are being killed in cold blood, and INEC looks the other way,” he fumed. The statement further accused security agencies of complicity, claiming they provided cover for APC thugs to disrupt voting in areas like Biu, Damboa, and Kaga LGAs.
Eyewitness accounts from affected communities paint a picture of chaos. In Maiduguri’s Jidda Ward, residents reported that armed youths, allegedly loyal to the APC, chased away PDP agents before polls opened. “We saw them with guns; they said no PDP here today,” one anonymous voter told reporters, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals.
INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner in Borno, Mr. Abubakar Ibn Umar, dismissed the allegations as “baseless,” insisting that the commission had deployed adequate materials and personnel. “Elections are proceeding smoothly in most areas. We regret any isolated incidents but urge all parties to embrace peace,” Umar said in a brief response to journalists.
However, PDP’s withdrawal extends beyond Borno, signaling broader discontent with Nigeria’s local polls. The party had already pulled out in parts of neighbouring Yobe State, where similar complaints of rigging surfaced. Political analysts see this as a test case for INEC’s credibility ahead of the 2027 general elections.Borno, a stronghold of President Bola Tinubu’s APC, has long been a flashpoint for electoral disputes. The PDP, which governed several councils in the 2020 polls, accused Governor Babagana Zulum’s administration of weaponizing state resources against them. “This is not an election; it’s a coronation,” Zanna thundered, vowing legal action to challenge INEC’s conduct.
As of midday Friday, voting continued in APC-dominated areas, with turnout described as low amid heavy security presence. Civil society groups, including the Yiaga Africa election monitors, called for an urgent review. “The withdrawal underscores systemic flaws that erode public trust,” said Samson Itodo, Yiaga’s Executive Director.The development comes against the backdrop of nationwide concerns over local government autonomy, following the Supreme Court’s July ruling devolving powers from state governors. PDP’s exit in Borno could embolden similar actions elsewhere, potentially fragmenting the polls.
