LOCAL government election in Plateau State appears to have become a burden to both the Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission (PLASIEC) and the state government. The last council election in the state was held in 2008 and was marred by violence, which snowballed into ethno-religious crisis, leading to the death of more than 300 people. Since the expiration of the tenure of those elected in 2011, caretaker committees have been at the helm of affairs of the 17 local government areas of the state. Several attempts to hold elections have been futile as a result in a number of reasons with government officials always blaming it on the fragile security in the state.

LOCAL government election in Plateau State appears to have become a burden to both the Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission (PLASIEC) and the state government. The last council election in the state was held in 2008 and was marred by violence, which snowballed into ethno-religious crisis, leading to the death of more than 300 people. Since the expiration of the tenure of those elected in 2011, caretaker committees have been at the helm of affairs of the 17 local government areas of the state. Several attempts to hold elections have been futile as a result in a number of reasons with government officials always blaming it on the fragile security in the state.

The government and PLASIEC attempted to conduct the election three times without any headway. Politicians, yearning for democratic government at the grassroot, were happy in November, last year, when the state electoral commission announced its preparedness to conduct the election and consequently fixed 7th December for the polls.

The euphoria that trailed the announcement was short-lived, as the commission extended the election to December 21,2013 to enable it prepare adequately for the election. The postponement heightened tension and anxiety among the political class. In addition, the government announced the election would not hold in Jos North and Wase Local Government Areas on security ground.
Before the hullaballoo over the extension could settle down, the commission, in a communiqué signed by its chairman, Mr Peter Dalyop, after a stakeholders’ meeting, comprising representatives of political parties, announced the indefinite suspension of the election.
The chairman, who signed the communiqué, said the electoral body observed that challenges had emerged, impacting directly on the implementation of the election timetable, thus necessitating the convening of a stakeholders’ meeting with heads of registered political parties in the state.

The communique pointed out that December 21, 2013 fixed for the election would hinder proper preparations for the polls, as well as enjoyment of Christmas celebrations in the state. It also stated that the mourning mood in the state over the demise of the first civilian governor of old Plateau, now Plateau and Nasarawa states, Chief Solomon Lar, was considered in postponing the election, observing the funeral ceremony would affect the election programme, especially the primary elections of the parties. For the umpteenth time, the election was re-fixed for a tentative date of January 30, 2014.

However, the parties, especially candidates for the election, were shocked, when the commission for the fourth time, shifted the election to February 25, 2014. They expressed disappointment, considering the efforts they had put into preparations for the election.
The commission in a terse statement signed by its chairman, Peter Dalyop, said the latest postponement was occasioned by unexpected difficulties encountered in the production of vital election material by the producer which, he said, was taking more time than initially allocated. It appealed to the stakeholders in the election and the general public for understanding and cooperation with the commission to achieve the desired goals, adding that upon the shift, the remaining activities on the election timetable are accordingly adjusted in line with PLASIEC Law, 2013.
An investigation by the Nigerian Tribune revealed that the shift has further the dampened the spirit of the political class, especially the candidates, and raised suspicion that the commission was up to a game. The stakeholders wondered why election would be shifted four times without any convincing reason.

The interim State Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former minister of state for Information, Alhaji Dasuki Nakande, said the shift for the fourth time did not come to him as a surprise, based on the situation on ground. He asked the people to hold the state government responsible for the hiccups because it lacks the will to conduct the election.
“We are not surprised that the election is shifted again. Right from time, there was no arrangement on ground to show that PLASIEC and the government which is the financier are prepared for the election. The people should hold the government responsible for not releasing fund to the commission,” he said.

Opposition parties have frequently asked for the election, accusing the commission of deliberately postponing the polls to give more time to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to properly stabilise for the election. They also see it as a ploy to weaken and frustrate candidates of the opposition parties ahead of the election. But, in a swift response the Special Adviser to the governor on Media and Publicity, Mr Pam Ayuba, said it was wrong for anybody or group to link the state government with the postponement of the election. He stressed that the commission was an independent body claimed with conducting elections.

“Government has done what it is supposed to do; money has been appropriated accordingly. It would be a smack of mischief for any political party or candidate to accuse the government of starving the commission of fund. Government has played its part,” he said.
A chairmanship candidate of the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) in Langtang North Local Government, Mr Dan Dui, said the endless shifting of date was taking its toll on candidates for the elections, adding that the last postponement was a rude shock considering the time, energy and money they had spent so far. Checks revealed that apart from logistic problems confronting the commission, it was also grappling with the issue of litigations over the cancellation of the local government elections in Jos North and Wase local Government areas on security ground. APC is also in court over the election.

Investigation also revealed that as of January 15, 2014, arrangements for the election were still not very tidy, as the commission was still struggling to put some basic items in place to ensure a hitch-free election. The commission’s offices in some of the local government areas are yet to be ready.

Culled from The Tribune

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