In a resounding triumph, the candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) secured victory in all chairmanship positions during the recently concluded local government council elections in Taraba State.
The announcement was made by Philip Duwe, the chairman of the Taraba State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC), as he unveiled the election results at the commission's headquarters in Jalingo on Sunday.
A total of six political parties vied for both chairmanship and councillorship positions across the 16 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state. The results for the 165 contested councillorship seats were declared at various LGAs, with PDP emerging victorious in a landslide.
Duwe highlighted the keen competition among the political parties and acknowledged the media's crucial role in providing objective coverage throughout the electoral process. He expressed gratitude for the media's commitment and resilience, commending them for serving the nation with excellence.
Emphasizing the validity of the results announced at the local government collation centers, Duwe stated, "What we are doing is just to validate what has been announced. We are very grateful to the media for the objective coverage from the onset of this journey to this point."
Looking ahead, Duwe pledged that the commission would carefully study reports on the electoral process from various quarters to enhance future performance. He stressed the importance of receiving observations, criticisms, and suggestions to ensure the credibility of the electoral process.
"To assert credibility, we must get as much observation and criticisms of what we are doing and suggestions of ways we can improve," Duwe stated. He shared his personal experience, recounting, "I led a team of highly respected journalists, election observers, and other people to a polling unit, and we did not see any election activity happening."
Acknowledging the imperfections in the process, he affirmed, "This should tell you that we did not teleguide anything. Otherwise, I would not have led a team to such a place. So I must admit that this is a process and you cannot have absolute control over anything."
In a message of unity and sportsmanship, Duwe urged those who did not emerge victorious in the election to be patient, emphasizing the collective responsibility of sustaining peace in the state. He concluded by advising both winners and losers to approach the outcome with humility, gratitude, prayerfulness, and focus.
As Taraba reflects on the outcomes of this local government council election, the PDP's sweeping success marks a significant chapter in the state's political landscape.
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