Breaking: 13 political parties cleared for Plateau south bye-election

Breaking: 13 political parties cleared for Plateau south bye-election 

By, Daniel Kura

The Plateau State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mallam Halilu Pai has disclosed that no fewer than 13 political parties has been cleared by the National Headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to participates in the forthcoming Plateau South Senatorial bye election. 

Pai while addressing stakeholders in the commission head office in Jos, on commission's level of preparedness to conduct, a free, fair and credible bye election in the state, said, they have so far received a list of 13 cleared political parties whom have shown interest to participated in the election which are: 

Accord Party (AP) Action Alliance (AA) All Progressive Congress (APC) All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) Alternative Party of Nigeria (APN)

Action Peoples Party (APP) Labour Party (LP) New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) National Rescue Movement (NRM) Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Social Democratic Party (SDP) Young Progressive Party (YPP) and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) 

Also, the Resident Electoral Commissioner Mallam Paid, in his disclosure, reveals that six local government areas comprises of Langtang North, Langtang South, Wase, Mikang, Shendam and Qua'an-pan made up Plateau Southern Senatorial zone of the State, with a total number of 671,209 registered voters, and has 68 Registration Areas (RAs), while 712 is the total number of polling unites

Furthermore, the REC reveals that “This is important for you to know and some of you even know better than INEC particularly those that have been participating in elections.

“We will give you more information as we receive them from the National Headquarters,” he said.

He also reveals that the elections would be conducted under the strict adherence to COVID-19 safety protocols.

INEC State Director of Training, Dr Tyokyaa Abary,  said  that wearing of face masks at polling units and all election locations was mandatory.

Abary stated that any voter showing symptoms of COVID-19 such as high temperature, coughing and sneezing would be requested to leave the queue or voting area.

He explained that such persons shall be attended to by designated officials.

He advised the people to avoid unnecessary touching of surfaces or leaning on walls and other surfaces at polling units.

“Similarly, during the election training periods, so many innovations in-line with COVID-19 pandemic protocols have been introduced.

“The methodology for the election training will combine face-to-face and electronic approaches.

“Where the former is used, the requisite COVID-19 prevention protocols will strictly apply,” the director stressed.

He also said that training resources such as manuals and DVDs for the election officials would be shared with trainees prior to the training to reduce face-to-face contact.