The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Borno State has announced its withdrawal from the upcoming local government elections scheduled for Saturday, December 13, citing a lack of confidence in the electoral commission and high costs associated with participating in the polls.
In a statement issued on Friday, the state Publicity Secretary of PDP, Amos Adziba, said the decision was reached during a recent State Executive Committee (SEC) meeting held in Maiduguri, the state capital. The party emphasized that the move was taken after careful consideration of several factors that it believes undermine the credibility and fairness of the elections.
Titled “Why We’re Boycotting Borno LG Polls,” the PDP statement highlighted key reasons for the decision. The party accused the Borno State Independent Electoral Commission (BOSIEC) of failing to provide opposition parties with sufficient assurances that the elections would be free, fair, and credible.
“The leading opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Borno State has disclosed that it won’t participate in the December 13th, 2025 local government elections in the state because of high cost of expression of interest and nomination forms as well as lack of trust in the electoral body,” the statement read.
Adziba explained that the high costs of election forms place undue financial pressure on opposition parties and limit their ability to compete effectively. He said the state electoral body’s approach showed a lack of consideration for the economic hardships faced by political parties and Nigerians alike.
The PDP also raised concerns over the structure of the electoral process itself. Adziba noted that the state government has not amended the electoral bill to allow for councilor results to be declared at the ward level and chairmanship results at local government headquarters. According to the party, this failure could create opportunities for manipulation and electoral fraud, which would favor the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
“Since the state government has not amended the bill, it means that it will be business as usual for the APC to ambush other political parties with electoral frauds,” he said.
The party warned that without reforms to ensure transparency, opposition participation could be meaningless, as the electoral process would remain skewed in favor of the ruling party.
Borno State, located in the North-East of Nigeria, has witnessed a political landscape dominated by the APC in recent years. The ruling party’s stronghold has often been reinforced by administrative control and electoral processes that critics argue favor incumbents. Opposition parties have repeatedly called for reforms to ensure that elections are conducted transparently and fairly.
The PDP’s withdrawal adds to growing concerns about the inclusivity of local government elections in Borno. Analysts warn that boycotts by opposition parties could weaken democratic accountability and reduce public trust in electoral institutions.
High fees for expression of interest and nomination forms have become a recurring issue in Nigerian politics, often cited by smaller parties and state chapters as barriers to participation. In Borno, the PDP highlighted that such costs are particularly burdensome given the prevailing economic challenges in the state and the country at large, including inflation, unemployment, and rising living costs.
By citing the cost of forms as a reason for withdrawal, PDP has also signaled a broader critique of systemic barriers that prevent equitable participation in the political process. The party argued that these financial requirements unfairly advantage wealthier, established parties like the APC, leaving smaller or less-resourced parties at a disadvantage.
The PDP’s decision is likely to have significant implications for the December 13 elections. With one of the state’s main opposition parties pulling out, the ruling APC is expected to face little resistance, raising questions about the competitiveness and legitimacy of the polls.
The PDP has called on BOSIEC and the state government to implement reforms that would build trust among all political stakeholders. These include:
Reducing the cost of expression of interest and nomination forms.
Ensuring that results for councilors are declared at the ward level and chairmanship results at local government headquarters.
Guaranteeing transparent and accountable management of elections to prevent manipulation.
Adziba emphasized that without such reforms, the PDP sees little value in participating in elections where outcomes are predetermined by systemic advantages enjoyed by the ruling party.
Reactions to the PDP’s withdrawal have been mixed. Supporters of the party have praised the move as a principled stand against unfair practices, arguing that participation in a rigged process would legitimize electoral manipulation. Critics, however, warn that boycotts may cede political ground to the ruling party and reduce opportunities for opposition influence at the local government level.
The December 13 local government elections in Borno are expected to proceed primarily with candidates from the ruling APC and smaller parties willing to participate despite concerns. Observers will be closely monitoring the polls for transparency, fairness, and voter turnout, given the PDP’s absence.