By Chijioke Kingsley
Youths in Plateau Local Government Area of Langtang North yesterday queried the rationale behind preventing the elected Chairman of the Council, Barr. Bitrus Rimven Zulfa from assuming office.
The youths who are majorly the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), members said because they are law abiding, they will not take to the streets to protest but appealed to the relevant authorities to allow the winner of the October 9 LG election to resume office.
Recall that there were conflict in the LG council when the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), candidate Hon. Joshua Laven obtained a declarative judgement from the State High Court that mandated him to remain in office as Chairman of Langtang North until October 9, 2022.
Laven who was the Chairman of the Council contested the 2018 local government election which it took the Court of Appeal to declare him winner of the poll in 2019 after one year of the election.
Issues arised when the tenure of the Local Government Chairmen elapsed on October 9, 2021 and the Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission (PLASIEC) conducted an LG election in all the 17 LGAs of the State.
Also recall that the PDP did not participate in the October 9 2021 LG polls as disqualified by the Court, leaving on the APC on the ballot box of PLASIEC.
However, Laven proceeded to court and challenged PLASIEC on account that his tenure had not elapsed because he resumed office one year behind his colleagues.
The High Court granting him his prayers sparked off controversies in Langtang North leading to the closure of the Secretariat by the Police to avoid blood bath between the Zulfa supporters and Laven’s group.
However, Secretary to the APC, in Langtang North, Comrade Abel Nomchak, told journalists on Wednesday that the APC and Zulfa had no business with the court judgement since their candidate clearly won the election.
He said Mr. Joshua Laven sued PLASIEC and the State Government and not Barr. Bitrus Zulfa and Langtang North.
“We are appealing to the police to open the local government secretariat so that Barr Bitrus Zulfa will resume work as the elected Chairman.
“We are also calling on the security agencies that to arrest anyone who is working to truncate the already existing peace in the LGA.
“We also want the people of Langtang North to go about their lawful business and ignore the PDP who are bent on fomenting trouble through incessant protest”, Comrade Nomchak said.
Also, the Youth leader, APC Langtang North, Mr. Naloh Dashe reiterated that Barr. Zulfa and Langtang North were not part of Laven’s suit at the High Court, so why allow the Secretariat to be sealed depriving the people of the Council to enjoy the dividends democracy that only Zulfa can bring.
