I still have one year in office, Lalong cannot stop me, says Plateau LG Chair

By Kingsley Chukwuka

The Plateau State Local Government Chairman in Langtang North, under the umbrella of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hon. Joshua Ubandoma, has said it is remaining one year for him to serve his three years term in office.

Ubandoma said Governor Simon Lalong cannot short change his tenure in office by imposing the candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), to over ride his tenure as Chairman.

He said there was no vacancy in the LGA and that the Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission (PLASIEC), shouldn’t have conducted election in the LGA in the first place.

It would be recalled that in October 2021, PLASIEC conducted LG elections in the 17 LGA of the State, in which the APC was declared winner in the 17 LGAs as the PDP was stopped by the court from participating in the elections.

However speaking with Journalists, Monday in Jos, Ubandoma said the court has ruled in his favour by declaring that the election in his LGA was a nullity.

He accused Governor Simon Lalong for enthroning anarchy in Langtang North, calling on the public to hold the Governor responsible should there be any break down of law and order.

On his part, the PDP Chairman, Hon. Chris Hassan said Ubandoma won the local government election in 2019 and was denied and when he approached the court he obtained judgement and was sworn-in one year behind his colleagues.

According to Hassan: “In the kangaroo October 9, 2021 local government election, he declared Langtang North Local Government Area vacant while the Chairman still has one year to complete his tenure but they brought in somebody.

“He went to court and obtained a declarative judgement that affirm him as the elected Chairman of Langtang North but Lalong is bent on causing confusion. All we know is that Joshua Ubandoma remain the Chairman of Langtang North Local Government Area until October 9, 2022.

“I want the public to check who is causing problem in Plateau State, is it the PDP or the APC?”, he asked.