The Peaceful LG Poll on the Plateau

Seriki Adinoyi writes on the recent peaceful election conducted by Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission to herald new Chairmen and Councillors into the 17 local government councis in the state.

The recent Plateau State local government poll can be well described as exceptional in many ways; it was relatively peaceful, with less rancor and complaints, and it was all-inclusive having all political parties participating and non-indigenes in the state contesting and winning elective positions.

This is a sharp departure from previous  elections where council poll always ended in violent crises leading to death of citizens and destruction of properties in the state. Kudos to the state independent electoral commission.

Ahead of the elections, the Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission (PLASIEC) had reiterated its readiness to conduct the polls, but also pleaded with the state government to give it all necessary support for a free, fair, and credible election.

Addressing the press, the Chairman of PLASIEC, Plangji Daniel Cishak, expressed readiness and commitment towards the conduct of transparent polls across the 17 Local Government Areas and 326 Wards in the state, bearing in mind that a credible and transparent exercise will make actors accept the outcome of the elections.

As a way of testing its preparedness, not minding the cost, PLASIEC embarked on mock elections across the three senatorial zones of the state. It was to test the readiness of the trained ad-hoc staff and also to test the efficacy of the newly launched voting technology known as Voter Verification System (VVS) used for the elections.

This way, voters and the ad-hoc staff were acquainted with the process and the voting technology, which the PLASIEC Chairman said was designed to enhance the integrity of the electoral process by ensuring that only registered and eligible voters could participate in the elections.

According to him, the introduction, launch and test-run of the voting technology was significant to boost the confidence of the electorates and an assurance of the integrity of the exercise.

The response from both voters and electoral officials was overwhelmingly positive as voters expressed satisfaction with the smooth verification process enabled by the VVS, which minimized delays and ensured accuracy in voter identification. The mock election also gave PLASIEC officials valuable insights into potential challenges and areas for improvement before the actual election.

All of these eventually enhanced a free and fair exercise that didn’t leave anyone in doubt, and where an exercise is transparent, there are usually few or no cases of ill-feeling that would usually lead to crisis.

The introduction of the VVS represented a key milestone in PLASIEC’s efforts to incorporate technology into the electoral process, helping to prevent electoral fraud and streamline voting procedures.

Of particular reference was the conduct of the exercise in Jos North Local Government Area, a hotbed of violence in past elections. Senator Joshua Dariye literally avoided elections in Jos North during his tenure as Governor of the state for fear of violence.

He simply consulted with stakeholders and appointed caretaker chairman.

The plurality of Jos North council where several ethnic groups with significant populations reside makes election in the council usually very dicey.

During his tenure as Governor, Senator Jonah Jang dared to conduct election in Jos North. The outcome was overwhelmingly bad as the mayhem that broke out and its ripple effects resulted in the death of hundreds of people and destruction of many properties.

Though the voting itself went peacefully, violence set in at collation centres where caution was thrown to the wind.

Senator Simon Lalong, during his tenure in 2018 also cleverly left out Jos North and three other Local Government Areas (LGAs). He said that prevailing security situation in Jos North, Riyom, Barkin Ladi, and Jos South were such that elections could not be held in those councils.

Lalong’s tenure also saw total exclusion of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from local council election, a development that created bad blood and nearly threw the state into violence.

So, Governor Caleb Mutfwang actually broke the records by not only conducting elections in Jos North and across the entire 17 LGAs, but also did it peacefully such that there was no report of violence.

Remarkably, this was the first time that local government elections were conducted across all 17 LGAs and ended peacefully, a testament to the progress the state has made in strengthening its democratic institutions.

Opposition parties achieved notable wins in various Councillorship positions. This outcome reflected an inclusive political landscape, underscoring a renewed commitment to credible and participatory governance at the grassroots level.

Pundits attributed the ‘magic’ to wide consultations, all-inclusiveness, and transparency of the exercise, saying when an exercise leaves a contestant and his supporters with no doubt that they were roundly and squarely defeated, they are unlikely to go violent. That was what happened.

In the elections, some Igbo youths that participated were returned elected as ward counillors. Austin Wachuku from Abia State, was elected councillor for Vanderpuye Ward in Jos North Local Government Area while Okoro Uzoma, an indigene of Imo State, was elected to represent Tafawa Balewa Ward, also in Jos North. Both secured their positions on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party.

Though, the elections in 21 wards were inconclusive, re-run election were later conducted in the affected wards.

Speaking with a sense of fulfillment, PLASIEC Chairman said, “As a commission, we have ensured that the election was free, fair, and credible. Today, it is with joy that we present you with certificates of return, allowing you to be sworn in at your various LGAs.”

As usually obtained in every contest, the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state rejected the results of elections describing the exercise as ill-fated, warning that the PDP could not have won all the 17 LGAs if the exercise was credible.

At a press conference, the APC chairman in the state, Rufus Bature protested and vowed that the party would not accept the outcome of the exercise.

According to Bature, the Wednesday local government poll was flawed, rigged, and unacceptable by any standard. He stated that the election was the worst ever conducted in the state’s political history.

The chairman faulted the distribution of sensitive materials to local government areas and subsequently to various electoral wards and polling units.

He said, “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 were required.

“Furthermore in those earmarked areas, results sheets were not provided at all for reasons best known to PLASIEC. Despite all complaints and representations made to the electoral officers, nothing changed. Added to this unfortunate scenario was the supply of malfunctioned voting machines which never worked, and in most polling units, the machines hardly lasted more than two hours.

“This, we know is a clever way of rigging and also disenfranchising the people. Worst of all was the fact that election never took place in some areas and there was reported stuffing of ballot papers in PDP strongholds. In spite of these manipulations and sophistry by PLASIEC and the PDP-led government, the people never wavered but instead voted the candidates of their choices.

“PLASIEC officials particularly returning officers absconded across the entire states without waiting to collate the results as stipulated by law.”

Bature, however, called on the supporters of his party to remain calm and resilient to the party, assuring that the party would do everything possible to regain its mandate.

Mutfwang’s departure from the past saw him equipping the Commission with the tools necessary to conduct a credible poll and pledging never to interfere with the exercise.

His leadership qualities, and the trust and confidence he has built among the people, were instrumental in fostering a peaceful atmosphere during the elections, which saw an impressive voter turn out despite some initial logistical challenges like the late arrival of materials in a few areas. These setbacks were swiftly addressed and enabled a smooth accreditation and voting process.

The peaceful atmosphere and sense of unity across state during the elections were commendable, with residents displaying remarkable orderliness throughout the exercise. Their enthusiasm for democratic participation was evident as the commission had to extend voting hours to accommodate the large turn out, and the results mirrored the will of the people.

With the newly elected Chairmen set to resume work, they now carry the responsibility of translating their electoral mandates into tangible development for their people.

Mutfwang’s promise of a peer review mechanism aims to motivate local leaders to deliver impactful governance, ensuring that the dividends of democracy reach every corner of the state. Indeed, the outcome of the election stands as a testament to the resilience and resolve of the people of the state to chart a new path toward progress.

The Council poll will not only be remembered for the peace that characterized the exercise, but also for showcasing Plateau State’s capacity to overcome past electoral challenges and achieve a democratic process that genuinely reflects the people’s decision.