Birnin-Kebbi — The All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) in Kebbi State has said it would not participate in the Kebbi Central Senatorial by-election fixed for Saturday, December 19th by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) because of perceived "electoral irregularities."

Speaking to newsmen after a meeting at the party's secretariat in Birnin-Kebbi yesterday, the state chairman Alhaji Abubakar Musa Dan Maliki said the ANPP is withdrawing because it has noticed the irregularities being perpetrated by both INEC and the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the by-election.

"The INEC and the ruling government of PDP have already concluded their plans on the by-election. They have selected who they want and I bet you their candidate must win the election," he said.

Alhaji Dan Maliki observed that it was the common practice of INEC and the PDP to rig elections, alleging that when the ANPP won in some National Assembly seats in the state in 2007, INEC connived with the PDP to deny the party its victories.

Given this scenario, the ANPP chairman said the party has met with its members at the ward, local government and state levels and after a deliberation, they agreed to withdraw from the by-election.

"We know that even if we win the election, INEC and the PDP will still rig us out, so what is the need for us to participate?" he asked.

The party chairman therefore called on ANPP members and supporters in the state to remain calm while they watch the conduct of the by-election.