The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that all registered political parties are deemed eligible to participate in the upcoming rerun elections in Plateau Northern Senatorial Zone of Plateau State. Dr. Oliver Agundu, the Resident Electoral Commissioner in the State, disclosed this during a media briefing in Jos, the State Capital.
Agundu stated that the rerun elections in Plateau Northern Senatorial Zone and the Federal House of Representative Election in Jos North/Bassa Federal Constituency are scheduled for February 3, 2024. He emphasized the significance of active public participation and orderly conduct to ensure a peaceful election.
He clarified that the rerun election was not called due to an INEC failure but was based on a party’s failure to comply with a court order and its lack of structure during the initial election. Agundu highlighted that the rerun election will cover six Local Government Areas of Plateau North, comprising 73 Registration Areas (RAs) and 2,266 Polling Units (PUs) with a total of 1,234,761 registered voters. Additionally, he mentioned that over 11,000 Ad-hoc personnel will be recruited and deployed, along with security personnel.
The commissioner also underscored the electoral significance of Jos North/Bassa Federal Constituency within the Plateau North Senatorial District, detailing its 30 Registration Areas (RAs), 1,209 Polling Units (PUs), 647,409 registered voters, and 614,956 PVC collections.
Agundu urged media members to comprehend the enormity of the upcoming electoral activities and collaborate on ensuring transparent, fair, and inclusive election reportage, as well as timely public awareness of their responsibilities.
The INEC’s declaration sets the stage for a highly anticipated rerun election in the Plateau North Senatorial Zone, with ramifications reaching across the state and beyond.
