The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Borno State has announced that it will not participate in the December 13 local government elections, blaming its decision on a lack of trust in the state electoral process and the high cost of nomination forms.

The announcement was made in a statement released on Friday by the party’s State Publicity Secretary, Amos Adziba, following a meeting of the State Executive Committee (SEC) in Maiduguri.

According to Adziba, the party reviewed the readiness and conduct of the Borno State Independent Electoral Commission (BOSIEC) and concluded that the commission lacked neutrality and transparency.

“The BOSIEC did not provide opposition parties with any substantial assurances to inspire confidence in the credibility and fairness of the election,” the statement said.

He further stated that the government’s refusal to amend the electoral bill indicates that “it will be business as usual for the APC to ambush other political parties with electoral fraud.”

The PDP also condemned what it described as exorbitant fees for expression of interest and nomination forms, arguing that the charges show insensitivity to the economic hardships currently faced by Nigerians.

“The state electoral body is unmindful of the harsh economic situation by demanding high fees for nomination forms,” Adziba said.

The party also faulted the APC-led government for failing to amend the electoral bill to ensure transparent collation and announcement of results. The PDP called for councillorship results to be declared at the ward level and chairmanship results at the local government headquarters, warning that the existing process leaves room for manipulation.

Meanwhile, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has reiterated its readiness for the polls. In October, state APC Chairman, Bello Ayuba, announced that the party had already notified BOSIEC of its intention to fully participate in the elections.