Investigations by journalists in Jos, indicate that candidates allegedly backed by the Governor of Plateau State, Da. Jonah Jang have virtually won all seats in contention in the just concluded Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chairmanship primaries in the 15 local government areas where elections were held i.e., excluding Jos North and Wase Local Government Areas which were excluded from the elections because of security reasons.

Most of the winners were the chairmen of the recently dissolved local government management committees, who were adjudged to have done well in their roles as heads of the local government councils and were therefore given opportunities to continue in the position. ViewPointNigeria gathered that following an appraisal of the performance of the candidates, the ones said to have done well were put forward by the Government to contest the LG primaries.

Investigations by journalists in Jos, indicate that candidates allegedly backed by the Governor of Plateau State, Da. Jonah Jang have virtually won all seats in contention in the just concluded Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chairmanship primaries in the 15 local government areas where elections were held i.e., excluding Jos North and Wase Local Government Areas which were excluded for security reasons.

Most of the winners were the chairmen of the recently dissolved local government management committees, who were adjudged to have done well in their roles as heads of the local government councils and were therefore given opportunities to continue in the position. ViewPointNigeria gathered that following an appraisal of the performance and achievements of the candidates since taking over the helm of affairs in the LG, the ones said to have performed satisfactorily were put forward by the Government to contest the LG primaries.

Several political analysts are of the opinion that the Governor was positioning these candidates in prime positions to ensure that the 2015 general elections were easily delivered in favour of the senators, house of reps and governorship candidates that he would present in the polls.

Speaking to a representative of the state Government on this alleged election strategy by the Jang administration, the representative (who craved anonymity) debunked the insinuation that the Government imposed any candidates and said it was baseless to assume that anyone who won elections would simply be an instrument for a larger election agenda.

He said party members constituted a committee of PDP stakeholders in the councils and charged them with the responsibility of producing a credible candidate in each of the councils. And that the candidates assessed as being the best by the stakeholders were the candidates presented at the polls –which they ultimately won.

Results of the primaries collated so far, showed that in Jos South LGA, the immediate past Management Committee Chairman, Hon. Peter Vwang Dung, emerged winner of the primaries held at the old secretariat of the council area. Announcing the result yesterday, the returning officer of PDP and state Commissioner for Science and Technology, Mrs. Comfort Piwuna, said Dung secured 115 votes while his opponent, Ishaya Gadu, secured 15 votes.

Speaking to journalists shortly after being declared winner, Dung averred that he will reach out to other candidates who lost the election, in a bid to join hands and move the council forward –if voted chairman in January.

Most of the election process was said to have been peaceful, except for minor disagreements amongst delegates in Jos East area of the state.

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Plateau PDP LG primaries: Critics say only Government backed candidates won the elections