The Youth Initiative Against Violence and Human Rights Abuse (YIAVHA), has expressed concern over incidents of physical violence, reports of violations and vote buying in Plateau state, preparatory to the 2023 elections.
The group made this known on Thursday 16th February 2023 in Jos Plateau state as it inaugurated a 7-man committee of the Plateau State Peace and Mediation Working Committee and Media Engagement on the 2023 Elections in Plateau State.
Addressing Newsmen in Jos, The Executive secretary of YIAVHA, Comr. Jacob Pwakim, said that in Plateau, there have been 25 number of reported cases of physical violence associated with elections across 10 local governments, 3 cases of destruction of property, 7 cases of election related protests, 4 cases each of recruiting and arming thugs reflected in just one local government, 10 reported cases of the restrictions on political activities across 4 local governments, and 13 reported cases of groups barred from using public spaces for campaigns.
“According to the January 2023 Plateau state report supplied by the Long Time MMonitors spread across the 17 local governments of Plateau state is as shared to us by our partners the Kimpact Development Initiative (KD), and the International Republican Institute (RI), with support from the National Endowment for Democracy NED), interestingly has it that there have been 52 reported cases of vote buying across 15 local governments.” He said
Pwakim stated that the inauguration of the committee is to support other actions to be taken by both state and non-state actors towards a peaceful and credible elections in Plateaus state and Nigeria by extension,
He said “they will also serve the dual function of being a strategic structure that designs actions to be taken in view of the available statistics about emerging issues, and as a rapid response team that reaches out to those in a position to take action where the peace and credibility of the election process is threatened.”
“These men and women have been judged to be non-partisan, lovers and workers of peace and people who have often stood in defense of democracy, and these are people who are willing to commit time and resources and to utilize their connections and resources for free and credible 2023 elections in Plateau state.
The Members of the Working Committee incude, the Emir of Kanam, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Muhammadu Muazu Muhammadu II represented by the Zanan Kanam, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Lawatla Tanko, Ms Benedicat Daber, from the Civil Society and currently, the Coordinator of the Justice Development and Peace Caritas, Catholic Archdiocese of Jos, Dr Dinshak Luka, the Acting Coordinator of the Centre for Conflict Management and Peace studies, University of Jos.
Others include Sheikh Khalifa Dayyab Mushaddidu, the State Director of the National Orientation Agency, Plateau state, Ms Tabitha Pam-Horo, the Chaiman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (Plateau state), Mr Paul Jatau and the representative of the State Security Service (SSS), Plateau Command.
