The New Nigerian People’s Party (NNPP) has announced its decision not to participate in the upcoming local government elections in Katsina State, scheduled for February 15. The party cited the exorbitant cost of nomination forms set by the Katsina State Independent Electoral Commission (KTSIEC) as the primary reason for its withdrawal.
Alhaji Tijjani Zakari-Kafinsoli, the state secretary of the NNPP, confirmed the decision in an interview. He explained that the KTSIEC had fixed the nomination fees at ₦3 million for chairmanship candidates and ₦1 million for councillorship candidates. With 34 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and 361 wards in the state, the total cost for the party to field candidates would amount to approximately ₦463 million.
Zakari-Kafinsoli stated, “As a party for the masses, we cannot afford such an amount. We wrote to KTSIEC in April 2024 to complain, but we have not received a response.” He also noted that the Social Democratic Party (SDP) had taken the electoral body to court over the same issue.
This decision marks a significant shift from the NNPP’s earlier optimism. On August 31, 2024, the party had expressed confidence in winning chairmanship and councillorship positions in the local government elections.
Meanwhile, KTSIEC Chairman Alhaji Lawal Faskari announced that only five political parties would participate in the election: the Accord Party, Booth Party, African Action Congress (AAC), African Democratic Congress (ADC), and the All Progressives Congress (APC). The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and 11 other registered parties will also not be taking part in the exercise.
Faskari assured that all arrangements have been finalized to ensure the peaceful conduct of the election. However, the withdrawal of the NNPP and other parties raises concerns about the inclusivity and fairness of the electoral process, particularly given the high cost of participation.
The development highlights ongoing challenges in Nigeria’s electoral system, including financial barriers that may exclude smaller parties and limit voter choice.
