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Mutfwang extends public holiday in Plateau following delays in LG elections

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Tribunal upholds Plateau Gov Mutfwang’s election

The Plateau State Government has announced an extension of the public holiday for local government elections to today, Thursday.

This decision comes after delays and technical issues prompted the Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission (PLASIEC) to extend voting hours by two hours, shifting the end time from 3 PM to 5 PM on Wednesday.

The extension aims to ensure that all eligible voters have the opportunity to cast their ballots while maintaining heightened security across the state. The elections proceeded with relative calm, with no reports of violence or clashes.

Eleven political parties contested in over 300 wards across the 17 local governments, with major contenders being the Peoples Democratic Party, the All Progressives Congress, and the Labour Party.

On Monday, Governor Caleb Mutfwang had declared Wednesday, October 9, a work-free day to encourage citizen participation in the elections. However, many polling units experienced delays due to technical difficulties, which led to the electoral body extending voting hours. Issues with the Voter Verification System (VVS) were eventually resolved by reverting to manual registers in affected locations.

PLASIEC Chairman Plangji Cishak had previously assured that the VVS would be utilized for the elections. On Wednesday, PLASIEC’s Head of Media, Mrs. Koro Yakubu, explained that the extension was necessary due to unforeseen challenges, including late arrivals of sensitive materials.

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She reassured the public that the commission was addressing these issues to facilitate voter participation.

“The election, which was scheduled for 8 AM to 3 PM, has now been extended by two hours and is expected to conclude by 5 PM in the affected polling units,” the statement noted.

In light of the delays, the government decided to extend the work-free day to allow voters to return home. A statement from the Secretary to the State Government, Jatau, confirmed this decision, emphasizing the need for citizens who traveled for the elections to return safely.

“His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Plateau State, Caleb Mannaseh Mutfwang, has approved that Thursday, October 10, 2024, be declared a public holiday to enable citizens who travelled for the local government elections to return. The Executive Governor further thanks citizens for their peaceful conduct during the exercise,” the statement, signed by Permanent Secretary Mary Fom, read.

Some voters expressed concerns about the malfunctioning VVS during the elections, while others highlighted shortages of election materials in certain polling units, fearing disenfranchisement. PLASIEC officials were seen reassuring voters that measures were in place to prevent disenfranchisement.

Security measures were intensified in Jos, the state capital, and surrounding areas for the election. Observers noted the presence of Armoured Personnel Carriers and other security vehicles stationed at key locations. Heavily armed personnel were positioned around the PLASIEC headquarters, and major roads were blocked to ensure public safety during the voting process.

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