TheCable

Candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Taraba have won all the chairmanship positions at the just-concluded local government council election that held in the state on Saturday.

Philip Duwe, chairman of Taraba State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC), disclosed this on Sunday while declaring the results of the election at the commission’s headquarters in Jalingo.

Duwe said a total of six political parties contested for both chairmanship and councillorship positions across the 16 LGAs of the state, adding that the results of the 165 contested councilorship seats were declared at the various LGAs.

“This election was keenly contested by six political parties and the PDP has won overwhelmingly from the results here declared,” he said.

“The results announced at the local government collation centres are legally valid and 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.

“Despite the hard times, you have shown absolute commitment and resilience. You have served your fatherland excellently and you can hold your shoulders high.”

Duwe added that the commission would study reports of the electoral process from various quarters for a better performance in future.

“To assert credibility, we must get as much observation and criticisms of what we are doing and suggestions of ways we can improve,” he said.

“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.

“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 can not have absolute control over anything.”

He urged those who lost at the poll to be patient, saying everyone has a duty to sustain the peace in the state.

“Those who have won, this may be your good day but be humble and grateful in victory. If you have lost, it could be a bad day but the bad days will expire. Be prayerful and focused,” he said.