Christiana Gokyo Jos
Plateau State Governor Simon Bako Lalong has cast his vote in an election that will produce his successor and House of Assembly Members throughout the State.
Lalong along with his wife Mrs. Regina and Members of his household, were accredited and cleared to vote around 12noon.
Speaking after voting, Lalong said the exercise was seamless as the BVAS machine verified him within 2 minutes to enable him cast his vote. Same went for other members of his family.
He said, the reports reaching him from various parts of the State indicate that the exercise was going on smoothly except for the low turn out reported in some areas when the polls opened.
According to him, the numbers have continued to appreciate which indicates that before the close of voting, the expected large turnout will be recorded.
On the prospect of a victory for the APC, Lalong said he was optimistic that the people of Plateau State will vote for Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda to succeed him as Governor as well as other candidates of the party for to represent various constituencies of the State House of Assembly.
He commended the Plateau electorate for their peaceful conduct during the elections saying what transpired during the Presidential elections should continue to be upheld as Plateau people are know for peaceful and exemplary conduct.
As our Correspondent report that,the governorship and houses of assembly election is ongoing in most part of Plateau state went smoothly but there was voter Apathy at some polling Units within the state at the early hours of Saturday witnessing low turnout of voters.
Voters commended INEC for early arrival of staff and election materials as compared to that of February 25th election,though there are large turnout in some polling units in parts of Mangu local government, accreditation and voting going on smoothly
The governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Barr Caleb Mutfwang casted his votes at around 9:55am at Pushik 1 polling unit 003 in Ampang west Mangu LGA.
He commended the smooth take off of voting and express confidence that his party will be victorious at the end of the exercise,and urged the people across the state to be orderly and law abiding.
Speaking to some voters, who was sighted at a polling unit in Mangu said he was encourage to come out and cast his votes because he is expecting a better leaders yo emerge and change the socio-economic situations for better.
“I have to vote because, I have the opportunity to chose a governor that will make things better for youths like me. We the youths are the owner of government and we desire a good leader, that is why I have to vote”
Accreditation and voting started by8.30am but not many voters were seen on the queue.
At Polling 009 ,Anguwan Madaki 1 and 11 with 30 polling units , in Mangu LGA, INEC adhoc staff were seen attending to voters.
At Jiblik 04.the polling unit of the gubernatorial candidate of Labour party, Dr. Patrick Dakum cast his vote at his home town around 8:28am.He said the process was smooth, seamless and peaceful from information.
The presiding officer, Dangan Godson Titus told Journalists that voting started at 9:00am with voters trooped in to cast their votes.
Our correspondent who monitored the election observed that most of the polling units visited they was no issues with the BVAS as was recorded during the presidential election.
Security men were seen every units trying to ensure orderliness during the exercise,however, their was large turnout of voters were seen in most of the polling units visited.
Also the governorship candidate of All Progressive Congress (APC) Dr Nentawe Yilwada has expressed optimism that he will win the governorship election in the state.
Speaking shortly after casting his votes in Kanke local government area of the state, saying that, I confidence in winning the election based on my hard work during the campaign and my direct interaction with the voters.
According to him,I visited 196 electoral wards. out of 207 during the campaign , I worked harder than other governorship candidate,others governorship candidates ended their campaign at the local government headquarters, but I went down to the grassroots. And the result of hardwork is success”
On the voting process, Nentawe said, “So far so good, in terms of election management, INEC has done well so far, security arrangement is excellent, because I can see them physically. I can see that all the stakeholders are complying with the electoral act.
He said, the turn out is also massive, because the voters realised that this election is closer to them than the presidential election, this explains why the turnout is better.
“My expectations is that I’m going to win this election because I interacted directly with the voters, and they assured me they will vote me. Already, the massive turnout is one of the assurances the voters gave me, and so that prove to me that they are out to vote for me.he stated.
” I’m a very visible governorship candidate, the column of attacks and propagandas against me during the campaign shows that I am the most prominent among the party candidates, but because I am a winning candidate, I never saw those attack as anything, it’s part of the game. And my kind of training give the ability to carefully manage those attacks, because I know victory is mind at the end of it all “he stated.
