From Ron-well Jacob, Jos.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Thursday said that it was set for a free, fair and peaceful By-election in Plateau South Senatorial Zone.
The Plateau State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr. Husseini Halilu Pai, made the pronouncement during a stakeholders meeting held at the commission’s office in Jos.
“Already, arrangements have been made to meet with traditional rulers and religious leaders in Plateau towards ensuring a free, fair and credible Senatorial by-elections in the southern zone of the State.
“It will interest you to know that lNEC is ready to conduct the Plateau South Senatorial By- election in six Local Government Areas, namely, Shendam, Qua’anpan, Wase, Lantang North, Lantang South and Mikang of the state.
“There are 68 Registration Centres, 712 polling units and with the total number of 671,209 registered voters across the affected six LGAs,” he disclosed.
Pai warned the 19 political parties that would participate in the by-election to educate their members and supporters, especially hoodlums that might want to cause trouble during and after the by-election to stay away as security agents would not condone their nefarious acts.
According to him: “As part of our efforts to sensitise major stakeholders in the electoral process, this interactive session is to sensitize major stakeholders on the need to conduct a peaceful election.
He explained that the meeting was to enable the commission to interact and brief stakeholders on the level of preparations for the forthcoming by-elections.
“We are also mandated to adhere strictly to the COVID -19 guidelines. This is very necessary because we have a constitutional obligation as an essential service provider to conduct elections.
“In line with this constitutional provision in carrying out our duties, we should not be seen as agents of distributing the virus to others. Wearing of face mask at the polling units and all elections locations is mandatory”, Pai said.
Everyday.ng reports that the Plateau South bye election will hold on the 31st of October 2020, in 6 Local Government Areas of the State, with 13 political parties billed to participate.
The election is coming after the death of Senator Ignatius Longjan, who represented Plateau South at the Senate.
Longjan, who was also a former Deputy Governor in Plateau State, died on the 10th of February 2020.