Chairman PRP Raises Concern Over Non Conduct Of Bye Election In Rukuba /Irigwe State Constituency

Yakubu Busari

The Plateau State chapter, of the People’s Redemption Party (PRP), has decried nonconduct of by-election into Rukuba/Irigwe State constituency, by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), six months after the seat was declared vacant.

It said the non-conduct of the bye-election is an “aberration from the Constitutional rights of the people for equal representation.”

This was contained in a statement issued by the state chairman of the PRP, Rabiu Lawan, saying, “…the controversial by-election that produced Hon.Musa Agah Avia of PDP as Member, House of Representatives for Bassa/Jos North Federal Constituency,” held in February 2022, has left the seat of Rukuba-Irigwe Constituency in the Plateau State House of Assembly vacant.

“It is on record that the Speaker House of Assembly Plateau State has on 22nd of March, 2022 declared the seat vacant which mandated INEC to commence the process of a fresh election and therefore, communicate with political parties about the guidelines to conduct the bye-election for Rukuba/Irigwe State constituency within 90 days,” the PRP said.

It said, whereas, INEC was long notified so as not to deny the good people their constitutional rights, yet the constituent’s voice has been lost due to the nonpresence of their representatives.

“This is detrimental to their development and even welfare. There is no gainsaying that, the Rukuba-Irigwe Constituency and other surrounding axis are bedeviled by security challenges ranging from alleged cattle rustling to genocidal attacks on the people.

“This has left the people volatile and vulnerable without a voice and representation.

“This is unfair, unjust, and ill-motivated against the industrious people of RUKUBA-IRIGWE Constituency,” the PRP said.

It further said, as a people-driven Party and a voice for the masses, the PRP believes that the security of lives and property and welfare of the constituents must be restored and promoted via an elected representative.

“The Constitution provides that a fresh election be conducted within 90 days of the seat being declared vacant, however, It has been six months running now and the people of the Constituency have been left without representation…

“The party thus, call on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to expedite actions towards communicating to Political Parties and set a date for the by-election and of course to get set for the contest,” it appealed.