INEC Confirms Participation of All Parties in Plateau North Senatorial Re-run
From Tongnaan Bawa, Jos
The Plateau State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. Tersoo Agundu has disclosed that all political parties including the People’s Democratic Party ( PDP ) is to fully participate in Plateau North Senatorial rerun as well as other bye-elections billed to be held February 3rd in the state
Dr Agundu disclosed this on Friday in Jos while addressing journalists on the preparedness of the commission ahead of the 3rd February 2024 re-run election for Plateau North Senatorial District and Jos North/Bassa Federal Constituency of the State.
He explained that the election will be conducted in six local government areas of the state namely: Bassa, Barakin-Ladi, Jos East, Jos North, Jos South and Riyom, adding that the local governments have 73 registration areas, 2266 polling units with a total of 1,234,761 Registered Voters out of which 1167,001 have collected their PVCs.
The INEC Commissioner, who said based on the available data, the election is almost like a Governorship Election in some states, adding that the Commission is expected to recruit and deploy over 11,000 Ad-hoc personnel exclusive of the security personnel that will be equally deployed.
The Plateau INEC boss assured that despite the very obvious challenges confronting the Commission, it is ready to proceed with the election as scheduled and eagerly anticipated by many in the affected constituencies.
Dr Agundu declared: “The over three thousand (3000) BVAS expected to be deployed in this coming re-run elections have been fully charged and are currently being purged of the previous data ready for configuration and subsequent deployment. I wish to report that we have planned to deploy BVAS to specific Polling Units, RAs/Wards and LGAs during the election with the right quantity of backup ready for any eventuality.
“Let me also reiterate the earlier information that I escalated from our Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the last time we met before the General Elections, precisely that elections are not going to be held in some polling units across the nation for some reasons which resulted in zero registration. I wish to inform you that Plateau North Senatorial District also has a share of such units in 2 LGAs namely Bassa 1 and Jos North 3 totalling 4 Polling Units.
“Once again, all Political Parties, Security Agencies and other stakeholders should take note and act accordingly by not deploying agents or personnel in those places on the 3rd February 2024.”
He further pointed out the Commission has equally given special consideration to People Living with disabilities and other vulnerable groups so that they too can have equal opportunity to participate in this forthcoming re-run election.
Dr Agundu therefore expressed his determination to conduct free, fair, transparent and inclusive elections adding that this can only be possible in an atmosphere of peace which can only be maintained and guaranteed by the security agencies and fair reportage by the media.
