By Shittu Tanko
A coalition of support groups for Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to publish the total number of Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs, collected in the polling units slated for supplementary election on Saturday in the state.
The coalition, led by Peter Nde, made the call during a press conference on Tuesday in Jos.
According to the group, such revelation would go a long way in dousing the rigging allegations across the major political parties in the state.
The group noted that as the state prepares for the Saturday’s supplementary elections, it has observed some elements of threats posed by the activities of a “so-called group of political merchants desperate to turn the tide in favour of their paymasters, the PDP.”
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“We also observed the attempt to create tension and overheat the polity in the build-up to the rerun election as a result of the activities of a group of political thugs under the guise of Plateau Peace Movement International, PPMI, hiding under the use of uncollected PVCs and alluding that the defeated PDP flagbearer should have been declared the winner,” the group said.
The coalition, therefore, called on people of the state to disregard the PDP-sponsored PPMI election observers’ report, saying that there was a need for a thorough investigation into the membership and activities of the PPMI group “for their blatant falsehood.”
“We appeal to the Independent National Electoral Commission to remain steadfast, publish the number of PVCs collected in each of the 41 polling units for the Saturday elections and not to succumb to the antics of any group or the main opposition party in the State,” the coalition urged.
