APC Rejects Plateau State Local Government Election Results, Calls It ‘Ill-Fated’

The Plateau State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has rejected the outcome of the October 9 local government elections, labeling the process as incomplete and marred by irregularities. The party vowed to challenge the results through legal means.

In a press briefing over the weekend in Jos, APC Chairman Rufus Bature, along with several chairmanship candidates, criticized the Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission (PLASIEC) and the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP). They accused both entities of manipulating the election to prevent a fair assessment of PDP’s popularity ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“We in the APC describe the exercise as ‘ill-fated’ because it was the day the people of Plateau State were denied opportunities to select their leaders in their local government councils by the PLASIEC in concert with the PDP-led government and other anti-democratic forces,” Bature stated.

According to Bature, major issues plagued the election, including a shortage of essential materials. He claimed that polling units in APC-dominated areas received only 10-20% of the required ballot papers, and in some places, result sheets were not provided at all. He further alleged that PLASIEC officials absconded before collating the results, rendering the entire process flawed.

The APC also criticized Governor Caleb Mutfwang’s decision to swear in the PLASIEC-declared winners, calling it an “imposition” by the PDP-led government. “As far as the APC is concerned, the actions of PLASIEC and the decision of the governor to swear in the PDP’s chairmanship candidates as the elected chairmen is a misnomer and imposition typical of the government,” Bature remarked.

The APC emphasized its determination to use all legal avenues to challenge the election results. Party leaders urged their supporters to remain peaceful while they pursue legal action.

Naanniep Pingwai, the APC chairmanship candidate for Mikang Local Government Area, shared further details on the election’s issues. “The returning agents from the wards disappeared when people were insisting that results should be declared, securities were used,” Pingwai said. He also revealed that five of his supporters were arrested by the police after resisting alleged electoral misconduct.