The Labour Party has strongly opposed the N2 million levy imposed by the Kaduna State Independent Electoral Commission (KAD-SIECOM) on chairmanship candidates for the upcoming local government elections. The commission also set a fee of N500,000 for councillorship candidates.

In response, the Labour Party has threatened legal action against KAD-SIECOM if the fees are not reduced to the original amounts of N200,000 for chairmanship candidates and N50,000 for councillorship candidates.

Speaking to the press at the party’s state office in Kaduna, LP Chairman Alhaji Awwal Tafoki expressed the party’s dissatisfaction with the new fees. He suggested that the higher fees could be an attempt to discourage opposition parties from participating in the elections.

“Labour Party rejects the fees for the forms. We cannot afford N2 million for Chairmen and N500,000 for Councilors. This is unacceptable, and we call on KAD-SIECOM to revert to the previous fees or face legal action,” Tafoki stated.

He also raised concerns that the ruling party might use the sudden fee increase to prevent other parties from contesting in the elections. Tafoki called on Governor Uba Sani to intervene and ensure that KAD-SIECOM does not appear complicit in such actions.

Tafoki further doubts about KAD-SIECOM’s ability to conduct free and fair elections, noting that the Labour Party only gives the commission the benefit of the doubt. He also urged the federal government to allow the national electoral body, INEC, to oversee local government elections nationwide.