Yakubu Busari
At least no fewer than 10 political parties are to participate in the forthcoming Senatorial bye-election in Plateau South.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner, Plateau State Chapter, Mal Hussaini Halilu Pai has called for a credible election in the six (6) Local Government Councils of the State scheduled to hold on the 5th December 2020.
Mal Paid made this disclosure at the stakeholder’s forum on Friday 20th November 2020 for the seat of Plateau South Senatorial bye-election in Shendam, Wase, Langtang North, Langtang South, Quaanpan, and Mikang LGAs respectively.
He says. In a review of the result in INEC, form EC60E, which is a poster version of the form EC8A, the commission approved the introduction of a new step to further strengthen its election management process and enhance the transparency of the system.
Pai said the commission is aware that results management has remained a major source of mistrust in our electoral process, adding, citizens are often concerned and sometimes rightly so, that results may not always be consistent with votes cast.
He emphasized that wearing of facemask is compulsory at the polling units and all election locations voters party agents and other stakeholders will make provision for their facemask.
Pai warned that any voter without a facemask shall be turned away from the polling unit.
However, the APOII may request for the removal of the facemask to prevent voter impersonation.
He advised that no branding of a facemask by political parties, there shall be 2 meters 6ft queuing distancing at the polling units and sitting spaces arrangement within the collation center.
Halilu Pai stressed that there is the prevention of overcrowding during collation, only one polling agent of a party on the ballot or the candidate in person shall be allowed into the collation hall/center.
There shall be a two-tier queuing system at the PU one outside and the other in the voting area, voters will be brought into the voting area periodically to prevent overcrowding, he added.
Hussaini called on all voters that the voting exercise may commence by 8:30 am and stop at 2:30 pm and any voter showing symptoms of covid-19 such as high temperature, coughing, sneezing, etc will be requested to leave the queue or voting area and shall be attended to by designated officials.
The commission embarked on wider consultation with political parties, NGOs on 10th November 2020 including staff to enlighten and educate them on the voting exercise and guidelines for it.
