Gyang Bere, Jos

A Civil Society group under the Umbrella of Plateau Peace Movement International (PPMI) said two persons lost their lives violently during the March 9, 2019, governorship election in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The group noted that the election was characterised by failure of smart card readers and disruption and manipulation of the electoral process in most parts of the state.

The Executive Director, PPMI, Rev. Joseph Bot, while giving an assessment of the governorship election in the state on Saturday, called for the cancellation of results from seven local government areas of the state.

“How do you define an election where two voters were killed like it happened in Jos North Local Government Area.

“Our hearts bleed as tension is being generated in the area where drums of war were rolled out for post-election violence and bloodbath; this should be resisted by all and sundry.

“We call on the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Plateau State, Mallam Husseini, Halilu Pai, to resign as the lives of Nigerian citizens surpass one man’s interest. We also call for the cancellation of the elections in Jos North, Shendam, Wase, Kanam, Quan’pan, Langtang South and Mikang local government areas.

“in spite of the irregularities witnessed during the presidential elections, it was observed that the governorship election in Plateau was characterised by multiple irregularities and malpractices which rendered the whole process null and void.

“Election observers were deprived of observing election activities in some collation centres in Jos North, Kanam, Shendam, Quan’pan and Mikang. We learned that Quan’pan and Shendam collation centres were relocated somewhere in Government House Rayfield.”

Bot reiterated that two people were killed in Jos North Local Government, lamenting that some individuals were already beating drums of war ahead of the re-run elections in some parts of the state.

He alleged that the polls were marred by buying of PVCs adding that ahead of the forthcoming rerun election in the state, some people were already thumb printing of ballot papers.

Bot informed that vote buying and usage of unclaimed Permanent Voter’s Cards in possession of INEC was commonplace during the last governorship election in the affected Local government areas.