The Plateau State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has rejected the outcome of the October 9 local government election in the state, describing it as not concluded.
The party said it would adopt any legal avenue to seek a redress.
The Party chided the conduct of the Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission, PLASIEC, during the exercise and stressed that the ruling People’s Democratic Party, PDP, failed to use the opportunity to test its popularity ahead of the 2027 elections.
Addressing journalists at the weekend in Jos, the party’s Chairman, Rufus Bature, alongside some of the chairmanship candidates, also faulted the Governor Caleb Mutfwang, for swearing in the PLASIEC-declared winners.
According to Bature, “We wish to express our concerns over the conduct of the just-concluded local government elections.
“We in the APC describe the exercise as ‘ill-fated’ because it was the day the people of Plateau State were denied opportunities to select their leaders in their local government councils by the PLASIEC in concert with the PDP-led government and other anti-democratic forces.
“It is a fact that election materials, particularly ballot papers, were grossly inadequate, as polling units, mostly those perceived as APC strongholds, were deliberately given 10% to 20% of what was required.
“In those earmarked areas, results sheets were not provided at all.
“Probably disturbed by the people’s resilience, PLASIEC officials, particularly returning officers, absconded without waiting to collate the results as stipulated by law.
“The elections were more or less a referendum, which indicated the position of the people as far as the Mutfwang administration is concerned.
“We want to make it abundantly clear that the APC rejects in its entirety the non-conclusion of the elections because results were not collated and announced at the designated areas, as provided for by the law.
“As far as the APC is concerned, the actions of PLASIEC and the decision of the governor to swear in the PDP’s chairmanship candidates as the elected chairmen is a misnomer and imposition typical of the government.
“APC will use all available channels to seek redress. Let me also appeal to our supporters to remain peaceful, while we continue the struggle.”
Also, the APC chairmanship candidate of the Mikang Local Government Area, Naanniep Pingwai, stated, “A series of things took place during the election.
“The returning agents from the wards disappeared when people were insisting that results should be declared, securities were used.
“In my place, five supporters of my political party are currently at the Divisional Police Headquarters as the result of the election because they resisted what was not done right.
“The election is not life and death but about the dignity of our democracy.”
Peoplesmind
