News Commentary: The Need for Plateau to Remain Peaceful during the Governorship and State Assembly Elections

It is written by our News and Current Affairs Department

As the second round of the 2023 general elections involving the governorship and the state House of Assembly elections gradually comes to an end, Plateau voters ,the citizens ,contestants ,political parties ,security agents,INEC and indeed all stakeholders in the electoral process must be commended for maintaining the peace in the state .

The State Returning Officer for the Plateau state governorship election and Vice Chancellor ,Federal University,Lafia,Professor Idris Amali had promised to announce the winner of the governorship poll after results had been collated from the 17 Local Government Areas of the state as provided in the Electoral law (as amended) and the Electoral Guidelines issued by the Commission.

However,the winner of the governorship poll was not announced on Sunday ,a day after the election was held but instead,the state Returning Officer said the collation of results would continue today being Monday

This was after the results from 13 Local Government Areas had been declared with the PDP candidate ,Caleb Mutfwang leading other candidates in seven of the LGAs .

Not withstanding the initial anxiety which the postponement of the collation of further results from the remaining four Local Government Areas initially provoked from the stakeholders ,the people must be commended for exercising patience and responsibility aimed at ensuring that peace reigns in the state .

More importantly, the Police and other security agencies are needed to up their game.

They should not allow those who want to make themselves tools in the hands of desperate politicians determined to win power by all means forment trouble in any part of the state .

They must watch out for the major flash-point communities , especially in Jos North and other areas

The tension that was created in the state during the last Presidential and National Assembly elections as a result of the activities of hoodlums which forced the officials of the independent National Electoral Commission to abandon the Jos North LGA Collation Centre should be a guide

The security agencies must protect voters, electoral officials and electoral materials and cage the hoodlums.

Thankfully,the INEC through it’s state Returning Officer has promised to collate the results for the remaining four Local Government Areas of Plateau today before the winner of the governorship poll will be announced

We look forward to an election results where the people’s choices will be respected by all stakeholders. What Plateau needs at this time is Peace and nothing else