The Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Katsina State has filed a suit at the State High Court challenging the State Independent Electoral Commission (KTSIEC) over the non-refundable fees it has prescribed for aspiring candidates in the upcoming local government elections scheduled for February 15, 2025.
The fees include N3 million for chairmanship aspirants and N1 million for those seeking councillorship positions.
The SDP cited these financial barriers and other stringent conditions imposed by KTSIEC as the reasons for taking legal action.
Bello Adamu Safana, the Chairman of Katsina SDP, disclosed this at a press briefing in Katsina on Friday.
The suit, scheduled for hearing on Monday, June 24, 2024, seeks clarification from the Katsina State High Court on whether KTSIEC’s guidelines comply with constitutional provisions and electoral laws.
“Our great party, the Social Democratic Party (SDP), which stands for social justice, fairness, and accountability, views such conditions as not only illegal and retrogressive but a deliberate attempt to diminish democracy and exclude highly eligible, competent, and qualified candidates from offering their services to the good people of Katsina State,” Safana stated.
He emphasized that the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) guarantees citizens the right to participate in elections without discriminatory financial burdens.
Furthermore, the suit aims to ensure that all political parties in the state have a fair opportunity to participate in and field candidates for the various positions in the local councils, countering the current scenario where the ruling party has dominated the political landscape.
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