What informed PLASIEC’s postponement of Plateau LGA elections 

By Golok Nanmwa 

It has been gathered that real and serious threats to peace and security in some parts of Plateau State actually informed the advice of the State Security Council that compelled the State Independent Electoral Commission to suspend conduct of the local government councils elections that were billed to hold on February 17, 2018.

A security source  yesterday night simply described the details of the latest security report on the State as ” worrisome “, maintaining that ” no responsible government or security council would have allowed the elections go ahead when an intelligence report indicates clearly eminent dangers and plans by some unpatriotic elements to use the occasion to cause mischief “.

According to the source, given the benefit of hindsight, the security agencies in the State, as part of the build up to the elections, intensified coordinated security surveillance across the state, and were particularly vigilante because of the violent clashes and insurgency activities in neighbouring States.

He said the report shows that some local government areas especially in Plateau North and Plateau South senatorial zones were rendered veritable flash points for violence, and the perpetrators have planned to factor into the opportunity of any disagreement or altercation to unleash such confusion that will cause real break down of law and order with severe implications for peace.

He blamed part of the problem on ineffective border patrol and surveillance, a situation, he explained, underpin cross-border crimes and criminal fraternities, and providing opportunity for criminals to seek and take refuge in States or country other than theirs.

The report, he said further, indicates members of the notorious Boko Haram fleeing from military conquest and humiliation in the North East, and armed militia group, known as Sara Suka have sneaked into hide outs in Jos North and the environs. While the security agencies are working hard to locate and comb the hideouts of these criminal elements, it is just advisable to put the elections on hold as these bad guys could hijack the process and plunge the society into avoidable crises.

Given the bloody activities of herdsmen and hoodlums in recent times especially in the Middle Belt region of Nigeria, it is feared that any breakdown of law and order now could escalate easily and degenerate into such sectarian commotion that Will take a huge toll on human lives and the desired environment for social, political, and economic development.

He maintained that also contained in the report is anger among politicians in the different political parties arising especially from the internal processes that produced candidates for various positions in the same local government elections. He said reconciliation and party harmony are vital for a peaceful elections atmosphere. Angry and aggrieved politicians could explore a background full of criminal elements to commit mischief and all manner of electoral shenanigans.

However, reacting to the development yesterday, Plateau State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Hon Damishi Sango, described the action as premeditated and conjectured.

It could be recalled that the  Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in Plateau State on Tuesday  said it welcomes  the postponement of  the local government elections in the state by the Plateau Independent Electoral commission PLASIEC as a result  of the prevailing security situation in the state. 

Our Correspondent reports that IPAC comprises of over 35 registered political parties in the state .

State Chairman of IPAC, Latep Dabang made this known while speaking with newsmen after an emergency meeting of all Political parties in the state  .

He said “we the Political parties in Plateau State after our deliberation have welcomed the decision of PLASIEC to postpone the local government elections to a latter date as a result of security . 

“Security is very key in every election ” it would  be politically unwise to conduct an election that could throw the state into the dark days of conflict   taking into cognisance the peace that the state has been enjoying fragile peace  especially during this Simon Lalong-led administration.

“It is our resolve that we wait patiently for PLASIEC  to announce another date for the election”

“We commend security operatives for ,being  proactive  and  call on  them  to do their jobs accordingly ”

“We the Political parties have resolved not to make issues out of the postponement of the local government elections by PLASIEC ” he further added. 

Similarly Group of Plateau elders under the auspices of Plateau Political Elders’ Forum, (PPEF) has said that the postponement of the scheduled February 19 local government elections in Plateau State  was to save lives following security reports . 

The group said therefore that it will be politically unwise to conduct an election that could throw the state into the dark days taking into cognisance the peace that the state has been enjoying especially during this Simon Lalong-led administration. 

In a statement in Jos signed by the President,  Elder Ayuba Shown and secretary. Rev. Bitrus Naiwaazi, the group said that as elders,  they would not sit by and watch the state burn as a result of circumstances that could be avoided.

The group recalled that the inability of the Jang administration to heed security reports in 2008 and conducted local government elections led to loss of lives and property, adding that wise counsel prevailed on the same administration to postpone local government election a record four times. 

The statement said,  “We believe that this administration will not be afraid of taking the hard decision of postponing the election if only if only it would help in saving lives and properties of millions of Plateau citizens. 

“You recall that previous attempts at going ahead to conduct local government election in Plateau State had led to bloodshed and destruction of millions of naira worth of property. 

“Previous crises had caught innocent members of the public unawares and rendered them victims.

“As much as political traducers would like to play politics with this decision,  this government has demonstrated that it will not play politics with the lives and property of its citizens. 

“We therefore encourage the government to continue with the legacy that has become the envy of political naysayers whose only stock in trade is to seek unnecessary cheap political points even at the expense of people’s lives and property.

Meanwhile the People’s Democratic Party PDP in Plateau State has rejected the postponement of the local government elections by the Plateau state Independent electoral commission PLASIEC 

State Chairman of the party Hon Damishi Sango made this known while addressing journalists at the party office in Jos on Monday 

He said as a Political party, we find PLASIEC excuse of postponement of the elections as not only laughable, but most unfortunate, here is a state that has returned to peace following the appointment of a Hausa Fulani as a Commissioner in the Simon Lalong led administration .

We find it not only surprising but embarrassing that PLASIEC  is advancing security concern as the reason for the said postponement of the election

It could be recalled that during the Jonah Jang administration when we had serious security challenges in the state, local government elections were conducted in all the local government areas with the exception of Jos North and Wase  ,furthermore, the 2015 elections were held in all the local government areas in the state  we now asked what security challenges can be  more intimidating than the Borno state experience where election materials were taken to the IDPs camps in 2015 and elections successfully held ?

It is abundantly  clear that the APC government in the state has either been feeding Nigerians in general and the people of Plateau State in particular with falsehood regarding the security situation in the state, or one excuse has just been manufactured to perpetuate the illegal stay of non elected officials at the local government level 

We reject in totality the reason advanced for the postponement of the elections as it is a calculated  attempt to save their faces from the embarrassment that would follow their defeat at the polls 

We denounce in very strong terms the perpetuation of undemocratic administration and leadership at the local government level, and call on the people of Plateau to reject the postponement in its entirety as this has further murdered democracy at this tier 

We challenge Gov Lalong to tell the public when it will be more conducive for the elections to hold 

The PDP in Plateau is also worried that almost six months after the passage of the local government bill and transmission of same , the Governor   is yet to give his ascent, an action in gross violation of section 58 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999)as amended 

We therefore call on the Plateau house of assembly to withdraw the said bill passed  ,he added 

Also the Plateau Youth Council  yesterday said “We received with mixed feelings the announcement by the Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission of the postponement of the much anticipated local government elections which was earlier slated for 17th February 2018.

This was contained in a statement signed by Dr. Fabong Jemchang Fabong the Chairman of the

Plateau State Youth Council and made available to newsmen in Jos yesterday. 

It reads that  “Understandably, PLASIEC took the decision on the premise of the advise from the various security agencies on the Plateau. The various reports were not in favour of a successful and peaceful elections.

We are not ignorant of the security challenges we are facing as a people, and this we believe has a great impact on the planned elections. Security reasons for the postponement of the planned LG elections are valid, because government must ensure the safety of its citizens and their properties first.

Inasmuch as Plateau State Youth Council is desirous of having elected representatives of the people at the local level, we are convinced beyond doubt to accept the postponement and comply with PLASIEC and the relevant security agencies at this time. Learning from history has helped us avert mistakes of the past.

We had pledged to be reliable partners in the Peace Building process of the state. We are also committed to sustaining peace at all levels because of the place we occupy in the society. 

We call on the youths on the Plateau to be responsible in the use of social media and not to over heat the polity with posts and comments that has the potential to incite, harm or cause chaos. For it is always wise to gauge both sides of an argument before forming an opinion on any matter. Matters of security should transcend our emotions and sentiments. 

As a responsible body, we are ever ready to support the Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission when a suitable date for the election is announced. We also use  this opportunity to call on the security agencies to deliver on the promises of securing lives and properties and government should also intensify efforts to beef up security through the provisions of logistics and provide a conducive atmosphere for the elections. 

Plateau youths must understand the times and we must rise above our limitations and be the change we wish to see. These are interesting times we must first get behind us the myriads of issues that has threatened our unity, and start walking the talk. 

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What informed PLASIEC’s postponement of Plateau LGA elections