Governor Lalong of Plateau State
By Raymond Gukas, Jos
Ostensibly responding to public outcry over the refusal to conduct elections in four local government areas in the state, the Plateau State Government has indicated that the local polls will now hold.
To this end, the government has put aside N1billion for the purpose of the elections in Jos North, Jos South, Barkin Ladi and Riyom local governments whose elections were suspended two years ago for over security concerns.
Giving this assurance Monday was the State Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Sylvester Wallamko during the state’s 2020 budget breakdown recently passed by the state house of assembly.
The amount, he disclosed will be for the purchase of electoral materials by the State Independent Electoral Commission, even though he did not state when the elections would be held.
Apex News had reported earlier that a youth advocacy group in Jos South have demanded for the conduct of the polls shortly after the state government announced the constitution of caretaker Committees for the four councils.
The youth group under the augies of “Jos South Advocate for Democracy and Good Governance” threw the challenge shortly after the recent Supreme Court judgement barring states from appointing caretaker for local governments areas.
Leader of the group, Rwang Joseph Dung lamented that these council areas have been denied elected representatives for over four years and welcomed the recent apex court judgement on the matter.
“We want to use this opportunity to call on Governor SimonLalong of Plateau State to direct the State electoral body to immediately put in motion the machinery to conduct local government polls in Jos South Local government Area of the State to enable the people of the area elect their Democratic leaders at this third tier of Government.
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