The Plateau State chapter of tje All Progressives Congress (APC), says the party will boycott the local government re-run elections scheduled for Saturday, October 19th, 2024.
The party which made this known in a statement signed by its Acting Publicity Secretary, Shittu Bamaiyi, said the party had directed its supporters to distance themselves from the re-run elections.
Shortly after the LG polls on October 9th, the APC had accused the Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission (PLASIEC) and the State government of disregarding democratic principles and the people’s will.
The party had also criticised PLASIEC for describing the previous election as free and fair while organising a rerun in select wards.
The statement reads:
“The Plateau State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress has resolved not to participate in next Saturday’s so-called Local Government Elections re-run in Plateau State.
“Accordingly, the Party has instructed it’s supporters to distance themselves from the so-called re-run elections.
“The Party resolved that, since PLasiec and it’s paymaster the Plateau State government have no respect to the will and choice of the people as well as the tenets of democracy, there was no reason for the APC to give recognition and also re-validate illegality, under whatever guise.
“It is ridiculous and scandalous that, the same PLasiec, which shockingly described the local government elections as transparent, free and fair could come up with re-run elections in some selected Electoral Wards of the State.
“As a matter of fact, it could have been neater if the entire elections were nullified based on well established and genuine complaints arising from the conduct of the elections by some political parties other than the PDP.
“It will be foolhardy, waste of resources and security risk for the APC to further expose its supporters to the so-called re-run because from all indications it will be a repeat of what happened last week Wednesday.
“Cases abound, where some Candidates were declared winners by PLasiec yet not issued with certificates of return, thereby stopping from being sworn- in, just because they are members of the APC.
“The Party therefore urges it’s Councillorship Candidates and supporters in the affected electoral Wards, where the supposed re-run are expected to take place, to disregard PLasiec’s directives in that regard.
“While commending the people of the State, particularly it’s teeming supporters, for clearly showing the PDP led government their political direction, the APC is appealing to them to continue to remain calm and peaceful in the face of provocation in the polity.”