by Christiana Gokyo, Jos
Stakeholders and voters have accused Plateau State Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for compromising’ the process of the re-run election for Jos North/Bassa Federal House of Representatives for not producing ballots papers.
Our correspondent reports that, at Rock-Heaven polling unit 053 and other two around the Rock-Heaven materials for the Senatorial election were given complete, while for the House of Representatives only 100 were given – for 1,728 voters.
Voters were seen waiting anxiously for INEC to bring the materials for them to cast their votes but there was no response from INEC, and the Corps Members were held hostage. Consequently, elections could not hold in those polling units, including some in Kabong and Tudun Wada.
While speaking to journalists in Kabong, Commissioner for Lands and Surveys, Barr Peter Nyam Gai, expressed concern, saying, “What we are witnessing here is to say INEC compromised this process.”
He said, “Because we discovered that in some polling units the ballot papers for Senate were given complete, while the House of Representatives were only 100, and some places there is none.
“When asked questions, there is no answer. Are the polling agents not supposed to supervise and complete before moving to their various polling units – and they could not give us a certified answer,” he stressed.
He added that, “Apart from that, there are polling units that they did not come at all. For example, 092 and others within Jos North Local Government Area of the State, we did not see anybody.
“But for us, INEC must come clean and ensure that the correct thing is done, because the people actually came out enmass to exercise their democratic right, and for what is happening for us in Kabong/Tudu Wada, this election is highly compromised,” he commissioner noted.
“We call for INEC to do the needful to ensure that those, who are disfranchised, are given the opportunity to exercise their voting rights. For those areas INEC did not conduct election, we are expected that even tomorrow the people are ever ready to exercise their own democratic right,” he stated.
There was voters’ apathy in some polling units in Jos North Local Government Area that, the election was postponed, because of the exclusion of PDP logo, which was missing on the ballot.
The re-run election, which was ordered by the Appeal Court for the Northern Senatorial District of Plateau State and Jos North/Bassa Federal constituency election, was greeted by voter apathy on Saturday.
Our correspondent reports that, polling units so far visited within Jos South, Jos North local government areas seemed to be almost empty; the polling unit around the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Plateau Council Secretariat, with three other polling units near MTN office as well as two others around Plateau Specialist Hospital and Hill Crest polling unit also recorded low turnout of voters.
However, there was an improvement at Kabong and Jos South, though the turnout was impressive; yet, the location has about at eight polling units.
There is need for more ballot papers at Salama Junction Polling Unit of Kabong Ward, Algadama Junction voting units, which was stopped because only 100 ballots papers for House of Representatives were given, while the Senatorial were complete 1,728 voters.
Angered and vexed voters insisted that they will not go until they cast their votes; but there was no security attached at the polling units, and voting could not take place.
Speaking to journalists, one of the Corps members at the polling unit that was held hostage said they were given 100 materials, and when complained they were told to go, that INEC will bring the remaining for them.
So, when the voters discovered that it was 100 for the House of Representatives, they insisted that INEC must complete it before they will start their voting – that was about past 2pm. And as nothing was done, there was no voting.
Also, the Director of Press and Public Affairs to the Plateau State Governor, Gyang Bere, after voting at his Polling Unit 015 Dandyes, Chuwigi of Con in Jos South Local Government Area, noted that the election was peaceful and the turnout was encouraging, and urged voters to sustain the peaceful disposition to the end.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Lands and surveys, Peter Nyam Gai, was impressed at the conduct of voters. He voted at his Polling Unit 032, Kabong Central, and called on voters to remain peaceful as the election proceeded.
On his part, Peter Dung, who is Chairman Jos South Local Government Area, and who voted at Garangi 1 Unit 11 Chugwi, Vom, in Jos South Local Government Area said, he was impressed with the large turnout of voters in his area.
While describing the low turnout in other areas as expression of anger for the exemption of PDP on the ballots, he added that, he felt happy, though, his party – the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) – is not on the ballot, but he is happy supporting the Action Democratic Party (ADP).
Also, the Commissioner for Transport said, “Plateau North people are traumatized with the exclusion of PDP in the ballot. You would have seen the reasonable turnout.
“No; they later found an alternative – a suitable option in the ADP – and they are coming out enmass to have someone to represent them; someone they want to vote and someone they believe in,” he said.
“At least a suitable option to the candidate of PDP, who without any reason, was excluded from participating in this election. Likewise, the Jos North/Bassa confirmed that Jos South would have reasonable votes.”