Monday, August 17, 2026 -Less than 24 hours to the Bauchi State local government elections, a coalition of opposition political parties in the state has announced its boycott of Monday’s poll, describing the exercise as a “kangaroo election” allegedly designed to favour the ruling party, Allied People’s Movement.
The coalition, comprising the African Democratic Congress,
African Action Congress, Social Democratic Party, Peoples Redemption Party and
New Nigeria Peoples Party, announced the decision at a press briefing held at
the Nigeria Union of Journalists Secretariat in Bauchi on Sunday.
Speaking on behalf of the coalition, the National
Spokesperson of the ADC, Dr Ladan Salihu, said the parties had resolved to act
jointly on the matter.
He added that the state chairman of the All Progressives
Congress was also expected to join the coalition.
Salihu said the 2026 local government elections were being
conducted under the 2008 Bauchi State Electoral Law, as reflected in guidelines
issued by the Bauchi State Independent Electoral Commission.
According to the coalition, the arrangement was in apparent
contradiction to the 2026 Electoral Act, which it said provided the legal
framework from which BASIEC derived its authority.
“This has produced a weak and questionable legal framework
and legal foundation for the conduct of these elections,” the coalition said.
The opposition parties also faulted what they described as
excessive nomination and administrative fees imposed by BASIEC, arguing that
the charges constituted a financial burden on opposition parties.
“The duplication of nomination and administrative charges
for the individual candidates, even though the entire exercise is funded by the
state government from our commonwealth, raises serious concerns,” the coalition
said.
It noted that the fees came in addition to campaign
expenses, transportation, accommodation, publicity, security, agents and other
logistics.
The coalition also criticised the electoral timetable,
describing it as “cumbersome and compressed.”
It said BASIEC restricted party primaries to July 15 and 17,
2026, while nomination forms were collected between July 22 and 24 and
completed forms returned between July 27 and 29.
“This left parties only a few days to identify a candidate,
complete the internal processes, and assemble all necessary and required
documentation,” it said.
The opposition parties further complained that insufficient
time was provided for screening, appeals, correction of errors, substitution of
candidates and resolution of internal disputes, alongside what they described
as an extremely limited campaign period.
The coalition also faulted the requirement that all forms be
processed exclusively at the BASIEC headquarters in Bauchi, rather than at
zonal or local government levels.
It said the arrangement imposed “needless additional
transportation and administrative financial burdens” on political parties and
candidates.
The opposition parties alleged that the arrangements were
structured to guarantee victory for the ruling party.
“Everything is being predetermined to ensure that the ruling
party gets a landslide and sweeping victory in the so-called elections,” the
coalition alleged.
It also expressed concern that some opposition parties might
have been approached or financially induced to participate in the election to
create an appearance of broad political participation.
The coalition argued that the absence of a level playing
field remained a fundamental obstacle to free and fair competition,
particularly because the ruling party controlled government machinery and
public resources while opposition parties relied largely on voluntary
contributions.
Announcing their boycott, the parties said their decision
should not be interpreted as weakness or withdrawal from democratic
participation.
“Our decision not to participate under the present
arrangement must not be mistaken for weakness or withdrawal from a democratic
process,” the coalition said.
“It is a principled and deliberate rejection of political
manipulation, financial exclusion, and an electoral process that does not
guarantee a free, fair and credible election.”
The coalition said it would rather channel its limited
resources into mobilising supporters and strengthening party structures than
commit them to what it described as an unfair electoral arrangement.
The parties therefore called on BASIEC to immediately
postpone the election until the identified concerns were addressed and a
“generous and genuine level playing field” was provided.
“We hereby announce our resolve, as opposition political
parties, to boycott what we consider a kangaroo election. We will reconsider
our position and participate only if these hurdles and restrictions are
lifted,” the coalition said.
It warned that failure by BASIEC to address the concerns
would leave the parties with no option but to take further legitimate action.
The coalition, however, reaffirmed its commitment to
democracy and peaceful political participation, while praying for peace and
progress in Bauchi State and Nigeria.
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