The Young Democratic Party (YDP) on Tuesday called for the cancellation of the December 23rd local government elections in Ekiti State.
The party said the demand was based on its exclusion from the election without any reason.
National Secretary of the party, Mr. Bolaji Oni, at a press conference in Akure, the Ondo state capital, lamented that his party’s name and logo were deliberately excluded from the ballot paper.
“It was with great shock and embarrassment that we found out through thousands of our members and followers on the morning of the election day that our party name and logo was excluded in the ballot paper”, he said.
Oni, who hails from Ido-Osi LGA of the state, noted that YDP had 8 councillorship and one chairmanship candidates but they were disenfranchised by the commission.
“YDP showed intent and obtained forms EKSCF 001, 002, 003 and 004 and submitted same to the commission for the just concluded local government elections, in line with the guidelines and timetable published by the commission”, the party wrote in a letter to EKSIEC.
“Our candidates were screened in your office and no form of communication was made to us or our candidates notifying that we would be excluded and the reason(s) for the exclusion.
“It took a lot to calm our members and followers down, who felt they are being deprived of their rights and ready to exercise their grievances there and then if not for God and the Party’s State Executive’s quick intervention.
“We hereby write to demand for the reason(s) behind this unscrupulous, unethical and villainous act of the commission. The petition also serves as pre-action notice.”
He revealed that the petition has been submitted to the Resident Commissioner of Ekiti State Electoral Commission, warning that YDP would resort to litigation if its cancellation demand was not heeded.
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