The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has called on the Yobe State Independent Electoral Commission (YOSIEC) to shift the date of the local government election scheduled for November 25, 2023.
The state chairman of the council, Bala Mohammed, made the call on Tuesday while briefing journalists in Damaturu, the state capital.
The decision of IPAC to call for the postponement of the November local government election was, according to him, endorsed by the 17 state chairmen of various political parties, including the ruling APC.
“As you are aware, the rainy season came in very late. Now that the rain has intensified, our people are heavily engaged in farming activities. Now is the peak of farming activities in the state, which is unsuitable for any political activity,” he said.
IPAC urged the state electoral umpire to postpone and fix a new date, “preferably after the harvests, to allow the people to actively participate and avoid disenfranchising them of their rights.”
Mohammed, avowing that true democracy is about maximum participation by the people, said: “We, therefore, appeal to the State Electoral Commission and the Yobe State Government to heed our call in the interest of justice and fair play.”
The government of Yobe State had slated the conduct of the local government election for November 25, 2023.