Group calls for cancellation of re-run election in Plateau State and resignation of REC, Hussain Pai



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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