Rev Joseph Bot with other members of PPMI during the press conference at NUJ Press centre, Jos on Friday |
Group calls for cancellation of re-run election in
Plateau State and resignation of REC, Hussain Pai
By Lovins Yakubu
March 15, 2019
A group known as the Plateau Peace Movement
International (PPMI) has called on the Plateau State Resident Electoral Commissioner
Alhaji Hussaini Pai to honourably
resigned for allegedly failing to conduct free, fair and credible elections in
the state. The group further called for the cancellation of the re-run election
scheduled for March 23, 2019 in 9 local government areas of the state.
The press conference which was held on
Friday in Jos at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) press centre and the
text read by Rev. Joseph Bot, the executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of PPMI Stated that PPMI has
been part of the Civil Society Group accredited to observed the 2019 General
Elections, stressing that its members are all over the state adding that the
press statement was necessitated by the report that was submitted to the group
by its members.
“Observers
gathered that the turn up of the electorates was generally low throughout
Nigeria, in Plateau State however, the story was not in any way different due
to voter’s apathy.”
PPMI noted that in spite of the
irregularities witnessed during the presidential, it was observed that the
Governorship election in Plateau State was characterized by multiple
irregularities and malpractices, thereby rendering the whole process null, a
course to worry. The text of the
statement read in parts;
“As concerned citizens of Nigeria, Plateau
youth questioned the electoral empire (INEC) over its tendencies of biasness as
most crisis on the Plateau were as a result of the insensitively of the
electoral body to grant free, fair and credible election. Some of the
irregularities during the Governorship election include:
“Fly of sensitive electoral materials in
the neighbourhood including already thumb printed ballot papers in Favour of
particular political parties. This was observed days before the General
Election among reputable personalities including right honourable Peter Azi.
Deployment of military troops who disrupted
the electoral process by harassing and brutally assaulting the electorate and
the youth coppers. Evidence were established beyond reasonable doubt in
Pankshin and the Tudun Wada Collation centre.
“Imploring of thugs who disrupted the
process of electioneering as report were gathered from Wildlife Park, amusement
park, Langtang south, Shendam, Wase and Kanam among other local government
areas. Engagement of fake security
personnel ,using police ID Tags and Civil defense uniforms. Cancellation of
genuine votes in some polling units without tangible reasons as in the case of
Mangu and Barkin Ladi LGA. The use of unclaimed permanent voters cards in the
possession of INEC while carrying out secret accreditation at various corners.
“Exchange of smart card reader machines in
some polling unit and collation centre. Vote
buying which was largely seen in Jos North, Shendam, Quanpan Wase, Langtang
South and Kanam. Changing of result sheets at some local government collation
centers and the INEC Headquarters.
“The engagement of APC card carrying
members as returning officers who import figures to suit their party and pay
masters. Deprivation of some observers from observing the activities in some
collation centre, e.g. Jos North, Kanam, Shendam, Quaanpan and Mikang. In fact,
it was gathered that Quaanpan, Shendam Collation centres were translocated to
somewhere in Government House Rayfield. How do you define an election where two
electorates were killed as in the case of Jos North? This are among other
evidence that displayed INEC tendencies to rig the election as did during the
presidential.
Cross section of members of PPMI |
“The electorate hereby display their
grievances, loss of confidence on Mr. Pai the Resident Electoral Commissioner
(REG) Plateau State and may adopt every approach to resist these tendencies
that show outright potency to disrupt the relative peace we have all toiled
for. And we ask in strong terms, what it takes to grant free, fair, credible
and peaceful election irrespectively political parties/candidates.
“While we are bittered about these
tendencies that proved biasness of Mr. Pai, the resident electoral commissioner
and his cohort we are yet being confronted with speculations of ongoing thumb
printing of ballot papers preparatory to the forth coming so called rerun
election.
Mr. pai and his cohort should know that
there was no need for a rerun of election in Plateau State if he had conducted
free, fair and credible election.
Consequent on the above our hearts bleed
with blood as tension is yet being generated as drums of war calls for post-election
violence and blood bath in our streets which will be resisted by all and
sundry.
“Finally, we
hereby call on Mr. Pai to resign honourably as the lives of Nigerian Citizens
surpassed one man’s interest. our second
prayer however is a call for the cancellation of election in Jos North,
Shendam, Wase, Kanam, Quaanpan, Langtang South and Mikang LGA's
While Nigerian
citizens call for Justice, PPMI join all its partners, civil societies, and
NGO’s Local and Foreign observers in a quest for credibility in all the
electoral process in Nigeria. And the vote of the common man must count.”
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