Plateau PDP Chairman Haruna Dabin, says the smooth campaigns toward the Plateau North Senatorial by-election, has rekindled unity and peace among erstwhile foes.
“The by-election is a huge booster for unity in Jos and its environs in Plateau North. For the first time, the PDP and the Beroms were able to penetrate areas seen as exclusively Hausa and Muslim, and largely believed to be hostile.
“During the electioneering, we met with the Hausa and Muslim community leaders and youths across divides openly embraced and carried the posters of PDP’s Pwajok, a Christian and Berom. That was never the case before,’’ he told newsmen on Saturday.
Dabin, from Kanke, in Plateau Central, who did not vote at the election, however, expressed optimism that the PDP would win because the party was able to secure the endorsement of all political and community groups hitherto considered as totally against it.
He appealed to the electorate to be peaceful and vote according to their conviction.
Dabin also urged the security personnel to ensure adequate security for the exercise so that no one would be denied the chance to vote or be voted for.
Plateau North seat became vacant following the death, on July 8, of Sen Gyang Dantong, in a stampede, when gunmen attacked mourners at Maseh village in the Bachit District of Riyom Local Government.
However, Mr Gyang Fulani, Plateau House of Assembly Majority Leader, who died alongside Dantong, is also being replaced in a by-election in his Barkin-Ladi state constituency.