PDP Sweeps LG Polls in Taraba

Wole Ayodele in Jalingo

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been declared winner of the November 18 local government elections in Taraba State.

Announcing the results of the elections yesterday, the Chairman of the Taraba State Independent Electoral Commission (TSIEC), Dr. Philip Duwe, declared the chairmanship candidates of the party winners in all the 16 local government areas of the state.

PDP, according to the commission, won in Ardo-Kola, Bali, Karim-Lamido, Lau, Yorro, Zing, Jalingo, Gassol, Ibi, Wukari, Donga, Ussa, Gashaka, Sarduana, Takum and Kurmi LGAs.

The results of the councillorship elections, according to Duwe, have earlier been declared at the various Ward collation centres in the local government areas.

The elections were generally peaceful as there were no incidences of violence throughout the conduct of the exercise, though the elections were characterised by the late arrival of electoral materials in many of the polling units.

He, however, noted that the election was not conducted in the three Wards of Yangtu development area due to the decision of the stakeholders in the area not to participate in the exercise.

Several stakeholders in the state have lauded the electoral commission for the credible conduct of the election despite the logistics glitches experienced.

Speaking to journalists in Jalingo, the immediate-past Permanent Secretary, Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Bello Hero, commended TSIEC for the successful conduct of the exercise within a short period of time, just as he appreciated the state Governor, Dr. Agbu Kefas, for providing the enabling environment for the elections to hold.

Kefas had upon assumption of office dissolved the Caretaker Committees in place in all the local government areas and directed heads of Local Government Administration in the local government areas to take over.

 He, thereafter, mandated TSIEC to conduct elections in the local government areas within the shortest possible time.