APC wins Plateau bye-election

THE All Progressives Congress, APC candidate, Mr. Eric Dakogol has won last Saturday’s bye-election for Qua’an Pan North Constituency in Plateau House of Assembly.

Dakogol defeated PDP candidate, Mr. Alloy Oliver by 638 votes to clinch the seat.

In a keenly contested election in the five wards of the constituency, Dakogol polled 5,409 votes against Oliver’s 4, 771 votes to emerge as winner.

Associate Prof. Akkarven Ashakah, the INEC Returning Officer, declared the result at the Legislators’ Chamber in Qua’an Pan Local Government secretariat in the presence of National Commissioner, Prof. Anthonia Simbini, State REC, Dr. Godwin Kwanga, party officials and other stakeholders.

Announcing the result, Ashakah declared, “having scored the highest number of votes cast in the Qua’an Pan North bye-election Mr. Eric Dakogol hereby declares the winner is hereby return elected.”

The analysis of results of the five wards shows that in Doemak/Kolang ward; PDP – 1,019 votes, APC – 1,079 votes, Kwang ward; PDP – 955 votes, APC – 951 votes and Kwa ward; PDP – 1,063 votes, APC – 1,744 votes.

At Doemak/Goechim ward; PDP – 834 votes, APC – 629 votes and Dokan Kasuwa ward; PDP – 900 votes, APC – 1,006 votes.

The returning officer, who described the election as “very successful and credible” congratulated the two candidates and their parties for conducting themselves peacefully and orderly during the election.

He said politics, as a game of number should be played maturely and in a peaceful manner for the emergence of a winner as witness at the bye-election.

With this victory Dakogol will replace last Godfrey who died two months ago as the representative of the constituency at the House.

Reacting to the victory, APC state chairman, Mr. Letep Dabang, described Dakogol’s victory as “very for democracy” considering the peaceful conduct of the election.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced it seized seven Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) from under-aged voters during the bye-election.

The Guardian recalls that the Plateau Lawmaker, Godfrey Dashe, died after a Brief Illness about some months ago leading to a vacancy.

INEC National Commissioner, North Central, Prof. Anthonia Simbini, who made the disclosure to journalists in Kwa, Qua’an Pan local government area of the state, said “We discovered in some polling units three major problems during the accreditation in this bye-election; under aged voters and, fake party agent cards and low turnout of voters.”

The commissioner expressed happiness with the presiding officers, who she said had turned away most of the under-aged voters that came for accreditation.