By Asile Abel, Jos

A coalition of Plateau State Youth Council (PYC) aspirants, has accused the electoral committee of rigging the Council’s elections which held on the 25th September, 2024 demanding the cancellation of the results, citing irregularities in the electoral process.
PYC chairmanship aspirant, Comrade Nanshok Peter who led other aspirants in a protest, told newsmen at the NUJ secretariat in Jos that the actions of the electoral committee undermine the fundamental principles of fairness, transparency, and accountability.

The aspirants who expressed dissatisfaction with electoral process acknowledged that “the events unfolding before our eyes threaten the very fabric of democracy and the integrity of the PYC.

“The deployment of armed men to intimidate aspirants and members, the deliberate exclusion of local government chairmen from the electoral process in at least 10 Local Government Areas (LGAs), contrary to established norms, lack of transparency in candidate and delegate selection, with the list of qualified candidates and delegates unavailable to aspirants even on the eve of the election, reports of elections not held in more than 8 LGAs, casting doubt on the legitimacy of the process. The electoral committee’s refusal to address serious issues and petitions from various districts and LGAs, further eroding confidence in the process”, Peter alleged.

He further reiterates that “these irregularities are unacceptable and have led us to lose faith in the Electoral Committee’s ability to conduct free and fair elections.In light of these developments, we, the Coalition of PYC Aspirants, have resolved to distance ourselves from this tainted electoral process.

We, the Coalition of Plateau State Youth Council (PYC) Aspirants, gather today to express our utmost dissatisfaction and disillusionment with the electoral process leading up to the PYC elections, slated for today, September 25, 2024.

Also, the events unfolding before our eyes threaten the very fabric of democracy and the integrity of the PYC.

We are compelled to bring to the attention of Plateau State and the world at large the notorious and sinister acts of illegality perpetrated by the electoral committee. These actions undermine the fundamental principles of fairness, transparency, and accountability.

Specifically, we condemn:

1. The gross rascality and lawlessness exhibited by the electoral committee, evident in the deployment of armed men to intimidate aspirants and members.

2. The deliberate exclusion of local government chairmen from the electoral process in at least 10 Local Government Areas (LGAs), contrary to established norms.

3. The lack of transparency in candidate and delegate selection, with the list of qualified candidates and delegates unavailable to aspirants even on the eve of the election.

4. Reports of elections not held in more than 8 LGAs, casting doubt on the legitimacy of the process.

5. The electoral committee’s refusal to address serious issues and petitions from various districts and LGAs, further eroding confidence in the process.

These irregularities are unacceptable and have led us to lose faith in the Electoral Committee’s ability to conduct free and fair elections.

In light of these developments, we, the Coalition of PYC Aspirants, have resolved to distance ourselves from this tainted electoral process.

We urge our supporters, friends, and well-wishers to understand our decision and recognize that our actions are guided by a commitment to upholding the values of integrity, transparency, and accountability.

We call on relevant stakeholders to take this move as one done in the best interest of the Plateau Youth Council, and our dear state.

OUR DEMANDS

1. We demand for the total nullification of the election conducted today the 25th of September 2024

2. We demand for the square nullification of all the districts and local government elections conducted before today

3. We also demand for the dissolution of the electoral committee whom has publicly shown interest on their love and mission to return some particular candidates elected

4. All customs, traditions and the constitutional stipulations guiding the conduct of PYC (i.e Plateau youths council) must be totally upheld and adhere strictly the freeness, fairness and the credibility of the elections henceforth.