Fifty four communities in Plateau State, have yesterday said they have endorsed the candidature of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Gubernatorial candidate Barr. Simon Lalong, in the fourth-coming Saturday elections.
The communities who spoke through a group known as the Plateau Unity Forum (PUF), at a press conference held yesterday at the NUJ Press center, which was presented by the PUF, spokesperson Alhaji Sani Mu’azu, who was also flanked by many community leaders, among whom were Musa Garba Izam, Shehu Ibrahim Masalla, Amb. Ibrahim Kasai, Alhsji Alhassan Shuaibu, Ponzhi Nimmyel Nimsel, Nuru Abdullahi of MACBAN, and others drown from across the various Local Government Areas in the State.
The group said previous individuals that had served as Governors in the state, including Governor Jonah Jang were elected in the spirit of Plateau irrespective of tribe, creed or social class.
According to them this demonstrates the equity of all the ethnic communities regardless of their relative demographic size, background or cultural affinity.
“Throughout the history of Plateau state, no family, village, district or community has demonstrated a parochial political disposition as is being perpetuated by the present regime of Da Jonah David Jang,” the group said.
The text of the press conference further stated that the members of the communities have mandated the leaders to declared that; “All our communities as represented by the signatories have adopted Barr. Simon Bako Lalong the Gubernotorial candidate of tge APC as our sole candidate for the April 11..,election and hereby call our members the candidature enmasse.”
The PUF, alleged that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has some shoddy activities from among some of its officials as well as some unscrupulous security personnel who are bent on tarnishing the good image of the gallant security forces.
They stated that it has come to their notice that the desperation of the ruling party in the state to win the election, “by hook or crook has made to resort to fraudulent means to enable it rig the election through intimidation,” using security operatives of the STF, Operation rainbow and INEC staff.
The group also alleged that the Government had made its: “Intension clear to use the huge resources of the state Government to bribe INEC staff and security personnel with the aim of using fake result sheets, ballot box stuffing, ballot box snatching and where it fails, the use of card readers so that it can rig the election ad it did the Presidential vote.”
They furthermore, appealed to INEC, the Security forces, especially the Special Task Force (STF), in the state to be neutral and transparent in supporting the conduct of the elections.
The community leaders admonished their members to conduct themselves peacefully, during and after the elections, and to also act in accordance with the set down guidelines and laws Governing the conducts of the election.
