The Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission (PLASIEC),has announced that People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has won in all 10 local government areas (LGAs) in the state.
Following the announcement of the result by PLASIEC, the All Progressives Congress (APC) expressed dissatisfaction, labeling commission a “disappointment” in its handling of the election process.
PLASIEC Chairman, Plangji Cishak, announced the results from 10 out of the 17 LGAs before officials took a recess, awaiting results from the remaining seven LGAs. The results announced so far are from Kanam, Jos East, Barkin Ladi, Langtang South, Qua’an Pan, Riyom, Jos South, Bassa, Mikang, and Jos North.
Reacting to the outcome, Shittu Bamaiyi, Acting Publicity Secretary of the APC in Plateau State, criticized both the electoral commission and the PDP-led government, describing the election process as fraudulent.
Bamaiji said, “The Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission is a total disappointment and a disaster in the conduct of yesterday’s local government elections. Governor Mutfwang’s and PLASIEC’s assurances of transparency, credibility, and fairness turned out to be a smokescreen for deceit and malpractice.”
He alleged that the elections were manipulated from the start, with delays in the commencement of voting and deliberate shortages in ballot papers, adding that LGAs such as Kanke, Kanam, Wase, Shendam, Langtang-South, Bokkos, Jos-North, Pankshin, and Bassa received only 20% of the required ballot papers.
“Despite repeated requests for more ballot papers, PLASIEC refused to budge, leaving many voters disenfranchised. In some areas, elections didn’t take place at all, despite the arrival of sensitive materials, which were allegedly withheld on instructions from ‘above,’” Bamaiyi added.
At the time of reporting, results from the remaining seven LGAs were still awaited, even as the venue for the swearing-in of the winners had already been set.
