Despite Widespread Violence, Observers Adjudge Plateau LG Elections Peaceful, Credible

Despite widespread protests that characterised recent local government elections in Plateau State, observers have insisted that the exercise was credible and peaceful.

The violence followed alleged malpractices that trailed the exercise in which Returning Officers allegedly abandoned the Local Government Collation Centres in connivance with the agents of the All Progressives Congress (APC) left behind the result sheets and disappeared into thin air. As the people were still waiting for the votes to be collated and counted, the winners of the elections were already announced at the headquarters of the Plateau Independent Electoral Commission (PLASIEC).

In Bassa Local Government, the protesters burnt the local government PLASIEC office and the house of the Local Government Management Committee Chairperson, Mrs. Sarah Bali.

Similarly, in Mikang and Langtang-North local government, the malpractices led to the burning of the houses of the APC chieftains involved in the fraud.

Protesting electorate also barricaded the highway in Kanke and Mangu for several hours preventing the Governor Simon Lalong and his deputy from returning to Jos from their villages where they had gone to cast their votes. It took the combined effort of the state Police Commissioner and Commander of the military Special Task Force (STF) to clear the way for them to scale through the protesters. The governor had to be flown into Jos with chopper to avoid being lynched.

PLASIEC announced APC candidates as winners in 11 local governments, while the elections in Mangu and Langtang North LGAs were declared inconclusive. The governor immediately swore-in the Chairmen-elect on the same day to avoid restraining order of court.