Plateau LG polls: PDP tasks PLASIEC to hold election

By Kingsley Chukwuka

Coalition of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chairmanship and councillorship candidates for the 2026 local government elections in Plateau State has urged the Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission (PLASIEC) to conduct local government polls before the expiry of the current office holders on October 10.

PLASIEC had, on October 9, 2024, conducted the election that brought the present occupants into office for a two-year term that would terminate on October 10, 2026.

However, a Jos High Court had raised the term to four years, triggering a court action by the Plateau state government.

The coalition addressing newsmen at the NUJ Press Centre in Jos on Wednesday, there would be a vacuum if the elections were not conducted.

They contended that Section 19 (1) (2) of the PLASIEC LAW 2024 mandated the commission to conduct local government election,
not earlier than 90 days and not later than 30 days before the expiration of the term of office of the last holder of that office.

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Leader of the Forum Sylvanus Dashe Datong, who read the text of the briefing said said that the language of sections 19 (1) and (2) was clear and unambiguous.

“It is a compelling authority that strictly mandates PLASIEC to conduct elections for the Chairman, Vice Chairman, and Local Government Legislative Council Members not earlier than 90 days or less than 30 days before the current terms expires”

They also contended that section 23 (1) of the PLASIEC LAW 2024 stated the tenure of local government should be two years:

“A Local Government Council shall stand dissolved at the expiration of a period of Two (2) Years commencing from the date when chairman took the oath of office; or the legislative Arm of Council was inaugurated whichever is earlier.

“We have observed and followed with keen interest the body language of PLASIEC in relation to discharging the constitutional mandate of conducting a free, fair, and credible Local Government Council Elections in Plateau State

“As candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with high stakes in the long-awaited 2026 Local Government Council polls, we are inclined to believe that PLASIEC’s complacency is a
calculated attempt to create a vacuum of Democratically elected structures across the 17 Local Government Councils of Plateau State.”