naija questions
Moderator
There has been mixed reactions among political parties in Plateau over the shifting of the date of the Local Government elections earlier slated for Dec. 7 to Dec. 21 by the Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission (PLASIEC).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the change of date was announced in a press release signed by the Commission's Executive Chairman, Mr Peter Dalyop.
The Commission said the decision to change the date was due to ``some unanticipated operational challenges''.
Reacting to the development, the APC said that shifting the polls date to Dec 21, just 4-days to Christmas, was not acceptable to it.
An official of the party, who was the former State Secretary of the CPC, Pastor, David Joseph said “we are going to release our protest letter soon''.
Joseph, who is a member of the Interim Caretaker Committee of the party in Plateau said: “Take it from me and this is authoritative, shifting the polls to four days before Christmas is not acceptable to us.
“We are not going to participate in those elections, they are not prepared for it, and we are not ready for it, they are only playing on our intelligence.
“They must take all the parties into confidence if they have to shift the date, they have not consulted us, they are not umpires unto themselves,” he said.
State Chairman of ADC, Alhaji Sabiu Ibrahim described the unilateral postponement of the LG polls by PLASIEC as unfortunate and clear evidence of bad leadership.
“We the leadership of ADC in the state and our teeming supporters do not have confidence in what the PLASIEC.
“At least they should have called a meeting of chairmen of the various political parties in Plateau before reaching such a decision considering that the polls are critical to the security of the state,” he said.
Former Chairman of ANPP in the state and now member of the APC said “personally I am not comfortable with the change of date close to the Christmas day.
“We Christian celebrate Christmas and we have to prepare for it, “he said.
Thomas Namfa, State Secretary of DPP told NAN that though taken unawares by the announcement, his party was ``partially'' comfortable with the new date
“We are still waiting to hear from PLASIEC, what we have is just verbal communication, we don’t have a hint on the reason for the shift,” he said.
Alhaji Bala Bako, Deputy National Legal Adviser of APGA in reaction said “we are okay, we are not objecting, we are ready and prepared for the elections”.
LP State Secretary, Mr James Diwa also told NAN that the party did not see anything wrong with the announcement.
“We are also adjusting to the new development, certainly we have not seen anything wrong with the shifting forward of the elections by PLASIEC,” he said.
Publicity Secretary of the PDP in Plateau, Mr Peter Shyepsuk told NAN that the party would issue a statement on the development.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the change of date was announced in a press release signed by the Commission's Executive Chairman, Mr Peter Dalyop.
The Commission said the decision to change the date was due to ``some unanticipated operational challenges''.
Reacting to the development, the APC said that shifting the polls date to Dec 21, just 4-days to Christmas, was not acceptable to it.
An official of the party, who was the former State Secretary of the CPC, Pastor, David Joseph said “we are going to release our protest letter soon''.
Joseph, who is a member of the Interim Caretaker Committee of the party in Plateau said: “Take it from me and this is authoritative, shifting the polls to four days before Christmas is not acceptable to us.
“We are not going to participate in those elections, they are not prepared for it, and we are not ready for it, they are only playing on our intelligence.
“They must take all the parties into confidence if they have to shift the date, they have not consulted us, they are not umpires unto themselves,” he said.
State Chairman of ADC, Alhaji Sabiu Ibrahim described the unilateral postponement of the LG polls by PLASIEC as unfortunate and clear evidence of bad leadership.
“We the leadership of ADC in the state and our teeming supporters do not have confidence in what the PLASIEC.
“At least they should have called a meeting of chairmen of the various political parties in Plateau before reaching such a decision considering that the polls are critical to the security of the state,” he said.
Former Chairman of ANPP in the state and now member of the APC said “personally I am not comfortable with the change of date close to the Christmas day.
“We Christian celebrate Christmas and we have to prepare for it, “he said.
Thomas Namfa, State Secretary of DPP told NAN that though taken unawares by the announcement, his party was ``partially'' comfortable with the new date
“We are still waiting to hear from PLASIEC, what we have is just verbal communication, we don’t have a hint on the reason for the shift,” he said.
Alhaji Bala Bako, Deputy National Legal Adviser of APGA in reaction said “we are okay, we are not objecting, we are ready and prepared for the elections”.
LP State Secretary, Mr James Diwa also told NAN that the party did not see anything wrong with the announcement.
“We are also adjusting to the new development, certainly we have not seen anything wrong with the shifting forward of the elections by PLASIEC,” he said.
Publicity Secretary of the PDP in Plateau, Mr Peter Shyepsuk told NAN that the party would issue a statement on the development.