Senatorial Bye-Election: INEC sue for peaceful polls in Plateau 

By Kingsley Chukwuka, Jos

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it would meet with traditional rulers and religious leaders in Plateau towards a free, fair and credible Senatorial bye-elections in the southern zone of the State.

This was stated during a stakeholders meeting on Thursday in Jos, by the State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Husseini Halilu Pai.

According to him: “As part of our efforts to sensitise major stakeholders in the electoral process, this interactive session is to sensitize major stakeholders on the need to conduct a peaceful election.

“This meeting is to enable us as a  commission to interact and brief stakeholders on the level of preparations for the forthcoming bye-elections.

“We are also mandated to adhere strictly to the COVID -19 guidelines. This is very necessary because we have a constitutional obligation as an essential service provider to conduct elections.

“In line with this constitutional provision in carrying out our duties, we should not be seen as agents of distributing the virus to others. Wearing of face mask at the polling units and all elections locations is mandatory”, Pai said.

Our correspondent reports that the Plateau South bye election will hold on the 31st of October 2020, in 6 Local Government Areas of the State, with 13 political parties billed to participate.

The election is coming after the death of Senator Ignatius Longjan who before his death was representing Plateau South at the red chambers.

Longjan who was also the immediate past Deputy Governor in Plateau died on the 10th of February 2020.