News reaching ViewPointNigeria suggests that the Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission (PLASIEC) has resolved with major political parties in the state to shift the already scheduled local government elections from its previous set date of 21st December 2013 to an undefinitive date in January or February 2014.

The communique of a meeting between PLASIEC leadership and the respective parties which was signed and released yesterday by chairmen of 14 political parties as well as chairman of PLASIEC, Peter Dalyop, did not specify a definite date but simply stated that, “the local government elections currently fixed for 21st December 2013 has been rescheduled to January or February, 2014.” It would be recalled that initially, when PLASIEC first made its announcement of plans to conduct the elections, it fixed December 7, 2013 as the date for the polls, but it later shifted the date to December 21, 2013. This would be another disappointment to parties and the general public who have eagerly awaited the conduct of the polls, having been in the pipeline for about two years.

News reaching ViewPointNigeria suggests that the Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission (PLASIEC) has resolved with major political parties in the state to shift the already scheduled local government elections from its previous set date of 21st December 2013 to an undefinitive date in January or February 2014.

The communique of a meeting between PLASIEC leadership and the respective parties which was signed and released yesterday by chairmen of 14 political parties as well as chairman of PLASIEC, Peter Dalyop, did not specify a definite date but simply stated that, “the local government elections currently fixed for 21st December 2013 has been rescheduled to January or February, 2014.” It would be recalled that initially, when PLASIEC first made its announcement of plans to conduct the elections, it fixed December 7, 2013 as the date for the polls, but it later shifted the date to December 21, 2013. This would be another disappointment to parties and the general public who have eagerly awaited the conduct of the polls, having been in the pipeline for about two years.

Commenting on the reasons for the latest change of date, PLASIEC averred stated that following a stakeholder meeting between the various political parties, the electorate and PLASIEC, they arrived at the conclusion that conducting the polls on the 21st of December was not feasible because of its closeness to the Christmas celebrations. Further stating that the meeting also considered the state of mourning in the state following the demise of the first civilian governor of Plateau State, Chief Solomon Daushep Lar, observing that the funeral ceremony will affect the election programme, especially the primary elections of the political parties.”

It would be recalled that several political analysts and comentators had questioned the “genuineness of intention” of PLASIEC in fixing the date of the polls for 21st December, 2013 -saying that there was not sincerity of purpose when a date is fixed too close to Christmas or the end of the year. These individuals may claim that their suspicions have been validated with the current date shift. 

Stay with ViewPointNigeria as this story unfolds………………………

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Date of Local Government polls shifted again to January or February 2014