The Honorable Member representing Riyom Constituency in the Plateau State House of Assembly, Hon. Timothy Dantong has raised a motion on the floor of the State House of Assembly charging the Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission (PLASIEC) to conduct Local Government Elections in Barkin Ladi, Jos South, Riyom and Jos North to enable the people enjoy good governance and democratic dividends the way other Local Government Areas are doing.

He frowned that elections were suspended in the mentioned Local Government Areas having held same in 13 other Local Government Areas on 10th October, 2018.

The Lawmaker cited Section 7 (1) of the 1999 Constitution as amended which says “the system of local government by democratically elected council is under this constitution is guaranteed “

He said Local Government Elections for Chairmanship and Councillorship seats were conducted in Bokkos, Mangu and Bassa LGAs which had same peculiarity with the 4 LGAs elections were not held on account of security reasons given by the State electoral umpire, PLASIEC.

Hon. Dantong went further to say, 2019 general elections were held peacefully in the Local Government Areas concerned.

He said the people of the four Local Government Areas have concluded that the State Government inability to conduct Council elections is a clear case of persecution, discrimination and injustice being meted on them.
He said the inability of PLASIEC to conduct the affected Local Government Areas has generated great tension and protest by the people.

He said worst of it is the decision by the State Governor to unconstitutionally and illegally appoint APC Chairmanship and Councillorship Candidates in the affected Local Government Areas as Management Committee which he said has heated the polity and created disharmony and threat to the fragile peace being enjoyed in the Northern Zone of the State.

He is therefore calling on the house to resolve on the following;

1. Call the Electoral Umpire to report and explain to the house reasons elections are still not conducted in the affected Local Government Council.
2. Call the Permanent Secretary Security and other State Security Heads to explain the variation in the security situation in these Local Government Areas and the strategy they used in achieving success during the 2019 general elections, and
3. Call on the Plateau State Government to commence the process of conducting elections in the affected Local Government Areas immediately.

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Hon. Timothy Dantong Raises Motion for Immediate Conduct of LG Polls in 4 Remaining LGAs