Mutfwang inaugurates 15 newly-elected chairmen, vows to protect LG autonomy
…PDP clinches 15 councils, 2 yet to be announced
Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang has inaugurated the newly-elected local government chairmen with a vow that he’ll not allow them to be short-changed.
The ruling Peoples Democratic Party clinched 15 of the 17 seats that were declared by the Chairman of the Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission (PLASIEC), Plangji Daniel Cishak.
The PDP won in won in Mikang, Shendam, Bassa, Riyom, Jos South, Jos East, Kanam, Qua’an Pan, Langtang South, Barakin Ladi, Jos North, Kanke, Bokkos, Wase and Mangu local government areas.
The results of Pankshin and Langtang North local government areas were still being awaited.
Speaking after administering oath of office on 15 out of the 17 new chairmen at Langfield, Rayfied, in Jos, the governor said that the contest was free and fair as all the chairmen were duly elected by their people.
He told them that the autonomy just granted them does not mean independence, but a call to duty and service.
Mutfwang promised to ensure that all the allocations to the local government are not tampered with and solicited for their cooperation.
The governor expressed gratitude to the Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission for a job well done, saying that the commission truly lived to its billing.
Mutfwang said, “It has been a collective journey and a collective success. When I was inaugurating PLASIEC, I made a solemn pledge that we were going to exorcise and cast away the demons of bad elections on the planet.
“And I’m proud that this PLASIEC has done us proud. They have done well. They have proved their mettle and conducted a very free and fair election.
“Taking off from where our father left off in 2014. In 2014, I was the beneficiary of a free and fair contest under the leadership of our father during which I contested as chairman of Mangu Local Government.
“And won my election, together with our Excellency the Deputy, governor, who won in Riyom. And I remember that I won that election with a handsome margin of 79,000 votes.
“And since we had always believed that local governments should be allowed to work, and I was a beneficiary of a system that worked
“And I can assure the people of Plateau State that we are not going to allow the local governments to be short-changed.
“I therefore solicit your cooperation. Autonomy does not mean independence. It only means that you should be allowed to work. .
The governor dispelled every insinuation that he was rigged into election as local government chairman, saying that again this election was equally not rigged.
“And I can tell you, under God, that that election was not rigged. Today, we have come again. And even the devil and the council of hell know that this election was not rigged.
“The bad losers, those who are always in the habit of being declared as winners without elections, know that this time around, their game is up because in every nook and cranny of the state, as we monitor it, we know for sure that the votes of the people counted.
“And so I’m very proud today to inaugurate this chairman with good conscience. And they are the first set of chairmen when we are beginning to talk about autonomy of the local government.
“And when they say this, I say it very clearly. Even the transition chairman can confirm that while they were in office, we allowed the funds of the local government to flow to them. I’m not sure that the approach we are taking to local government autonomy is the best. But definitely, I am committed to making sure that the local government system not only remains, but becomes stronger and more effective.
Earlier the results of the election were declared by Chairman of the electoral body, Plangji Daniel Cishak, who was the chief returning officer
Announcing the results today, Thursday, Cishak, disclosed that the PDP had won in Mikang, Shendam, Bassa, Riyom, Jos South, Jos East, Kanam, Qua’an Pan, Langtang South, Barakin Ladi, Jos North, Kanke, Bokkos, Wase and Mangu local government areas.
According to him, the results of Pankshin and Langtang North local government areas were still being awaited.
He stated that the elections were conducted across the state yesterday without any hitches and were adjudged by independent election observers to be free, fair and credible.
The PLASIEC chairman thereafter presented certificates of return to the 15 chairmen-elect.
