PLATEAU: YOUTHS BLOCK ROAD TO PROTEST INEC’S REFUSAL TO DECLARE LG ELECTION RESULTS
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Youths in Mangu Local Government Area have blocked the only road leading to Jos to protest the alleged refusal of electoral officers to release the results of the Plateau local governments elections held on Wednesday.
Reports said that, the youths have refused all entreaties to vacate the road, and have vowed to remain there until the Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission, announced the outcome of the polls.
NAN sources indicated that trouble started on Wednesday night when the Returning Officer for the local government, Mr Christopher Beten, General Manager, Plateau Environmental Protection Agency, started the collation of results from the wards, but abandoned the exercise midway.
“The official had collected results from some wards when a call came. He immediately told the agents and other ward returning officers waiting to take their turns, that he had been summoned to Jos,” a security source told NAN.
The source said that the caller also spoke with the Electoral Officer in charge of Mangu LG, Mr Hosea Plang, as well as a senior Police officer maintaining law and order at the centre, adding that the trio left the collation centre a few minutes later.
“This happened last night, but since they left, we have not seen any of them.
“We suspect that they want to manufacture figures and announce same in Jos. That is why the youths are angry and have reacted by blocking the highway to demand the declaration of the results,” the source told NAN.
NAN reports that following the youths’ action, motorists coming from Shendam and Langtang axis have been stopped from moving to Jos, while those from Jos are waiting to be allowed to move.
A spokesman of the youths, who gave his name as James, told NAN that the road would remain blocked, “until the Returning Officer comes back to declare the result of yesterday’s election”.
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