Plateau State Government Extends Public Holiday During Local Elections

The Plateau State Government has announced an extension of the public holiday to Thursday, October 10, 2024, due to the ongoing local government elections. This information was disseminated through a statement released on Wednesday by the Secretary to the State Government, Samuel Jatau. The extension is intended to provide citizens who traveled for the elections adequate time to return home.

The official statement quoted Governor Caleb Mutfwang, saying, “His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Plateau State, Barrister Caleb Mutfwang has approved that Thursday, October 10, 2024, be declared as a public holiday to enable citizens who traveled for the Local Government Elections to return.” The Governor also expressed gratitude towards the citizens for their peaceful participation in the election process.

The local government elections, which commenced late in numerous polling units, encountered several technical challenges across different Local Government Areas (LGAs). As a result, the electoral authorities made adjustments, extending the voting hours from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. to accommodate these delays and ensure that all voters had the opportunity to cast their ballots.

Earlier in the week, on Monday, Governor Mutfwang had declared Wednesday, October 9, 2024, as a work-free day. This measure was intended to facilitate citizen participation in the voting process. Additionally, Tuesday was declared a half-work day to accommodate preparations for the election.