Plateau voters, the populace, candidates, political parties, security personnel, INEC, and really all stakeholders in the electoral process should be commended for keeping the state peaceful as the second round of the 2023 general elections involving the governorship and the state House of Assembly elections gradually comes to an end.
In accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Law (as amended) and the Electoral Guidelines issued by the Commission, the State Returning Officer for the Plateau State governorship election and Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Lafia, Professor Idris Amali, had pledged to declare the winner of the governorship election after results from the state’s 17 Local Government Areas had been tallied.
Nevertheless, the state returning officer stated that the collation of results would continue today, Monday, instead of announcing the winner of the governorship election on Sunday, the day after the election was held.
As the results from 13 Local Government Areas were announced, Caleb Mutfwang of the PDP had won seven of the LGAs, leading other contenders.
Although the initial apprehension among the stakeholders that the postponement of the collation of additional results from the remaining four Local Government Areas initially caused, the people must be applauded for exercising patience and responsibility aimed at ensuring that peace reigns in the state.
Most significantly, security agencies like the police must step up their game.
They shouldn’t permit those who wish to use themselves as instruments in the hands of power-hungry politicians to cause problems wherever in the state.
They need to be on the lookout for big flashpoint localities, particularly in Jos North and adjacent locations.
The unrest that was caused in the state during the most recent presidential and national assembly elections as a result of the criminal activity of thugs that compelled representatives of the independent national electoral commission to leave the Jos North LGA Collation Center should serve as a model.
The security agencies must detain the criminals while safeguarding voters, election workers, and electoral materials.
Luckily, the INEC has pledged to compile the results for the remaining four Local Government Areas of Plateau today before the outcome of the governorship election is made public. This assurance was made through the state returning officer.
We anticipate election results in which the will of the people will be honored by all parties involved. Peace is the only thing the Plateau needs right now.
Leave a Reply