Plateau LG Elections: Voter Apathy Suffices In Jos North, As Hon. Kwande Sue For Rancor Free Exercise
By Daniel Dauda, Jos
High voter apathy triggered Naraguta ‘B’ ward in Jos North Local Government Area as council elections slated for today (Saturday 9th September,2021) by the Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission (PLASIEC) intensified.
Naraguta ‘B’ Ward is one of the largest political ward in Nigeria.
The elections came a day after court of appeal sitting in Jos refused to grant the opposition People Democratic Party, PDP, application to stop the Electoral umpire (PLASIEC) from conducting elections for excluding them.
Our correspondent who went round some of the polling units within Naraguta ‘B’ Ward, Jos North LGA learned that there was poor turn out of voters.
Pundits have it that the reason why people refused to come and exercise their franchise was a result of Court judgement which stop PDP from participating.
Some also said whether they vote or not voting the elections is in favour of the ruling party (walk-over), as other political parties such as AAC, SDP and the host of others whose logo were at ballot paper don’t have a popular candidates.
However, the former member representing Bassa/ Jos North Federal constituency at National Assembly, Hon. Suleiman Kwande confirm that,”I went to some polling units in Jos North which is my Local Government, district and everything was moving find. Though the turn out is very low to be honest with you, but you know is one of those things, and by the time you go back now you see people in que trying to vote.
“There are a lot of tension and anxiety yesterday (Friday) at the court of appeal before the judgment.
“I call on the electorates to go out and cast their votes peacefully and to make sure that their votes counted, and at the same time they should remain prayerfully”, he noted.
On the insinuation that a level playing ground was not accorded for political parties by PLASIEC, Kwande said:”lack of playing ground in the sense that the main opposition party, (PDP) are not taking part in the elections.
“We didn’t cause it, they shoot themselves in the leg. It is the PDP member that took them to Court. We didn’t take them to Court.
“It has happened to us in Zamfara State where the APC member took the party to Court. We won the Governorship, Senators, House of Representatives and the State House of Assembly, but we lost it all because our member took us to Court!
“PDP should have brace up to give us a good fight. Their ready for us were also ready for them too and I am confident that my party will win.
“My advice to those that would win is to brace up and do a good job because President Muhammadu Buhari and Governor Simon Lalong are doing wonderfully well”, he noted.
The counsellor ship candidate of Vanderpuye ward, Evangelist Grace Laraba Vanderpuye express optimism that people gave maximum support regardless of party affiliation.
Evangelist Grace who contested under the platform of ruling All progressive Congress,APC, having spent 40 years in politics grooming people is time to answer the called and serve people better.
Meanwhile, our correspondent inquire that sorting and counting of have kick started in some polling units as electoral officials stop voting exactly 3:00pm inline with PLASIEC guideline.