‘No Water, No Vote’: Plateau Community Threatens Election Boycott

‘No Water, No Vote’: Plateau Community Threatens Election Boycott

Residents and youths in Mabudi, the headquarters of Langtang South Local Government Area of Plateau State, on Wednesday staged a massive protest over the persistent lack of potable water in the community, warning that they may boycott future elections if the crisis is not urgently addressed.

The demonstrators, made up mostly of young people and women, marched through major roads in the town wearing T-shirts branded with the inscription “No Water, No Vote,” while chanting solidarity songs and demanding immediate government intervention.

Many of the protesters carried placards with messages such as “Water Is Life,” “Mabudi Needs Water Now,” “Stop Neglecting Rural Communities,” and “No More Empty Promises,” accusing politicians of repeatedly abandoning the community after elections.

The protest has drawn renewed attention to the growing water scarcity in Plateau State, particularly in rural communities struggling with poor infrastructure, prolonged dry seasons and inadequate government intervention.

Speaking during the protest, youth leader Nanlir Gambo said the demonstration was intended to alert both the state government and elected representatives to the worsening humanitarian situation in Mabudi.

“This protest is just a sign that we are serious about our demands. We won’t allow any politician to come here and deceive us again, using our needs only to abscond after the election,” he said.

Gambo lamented that residents have been forced to rely on unsafe streams and stagnant ponds shared with animals, exposing families to diseases linked to contaminated water.

According to him, women and children now travel long distances daily in search of water for cooking, drinking and household use, a development he described as “deplorable and unacceptable.”

The situation in Mabudi reflects the broader Nigeria water crisis, which continues to affect millions of people, especially those in underserved rural communities.

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Recent reports from communities in Langtang South and neighbouring areas of Plateau State revealed that residents have resorted to digging dry riverbeds and competing with livestock for water as the dry season intensifies.

Reacting to the protest, the Chief Press Secretary to the Executive Chairman of Langtang South Local Government Area, Butko Iliya, said the council had already begun temporary interventions to cushion the effects of the shortage.

According to him, the council chairman, Nanfa Nbin, has been supplying water to affected communities through tanker services since the start of the dry season, with at least one tanker reportedly delivered daily to each settlement.

Iliya also disclosed that the Plateau State Government had directed the council to intensify efforts aimed at addressing the crisis while broader and more sustainable interventions are being developed.

Meanwhile, the Plateau State Ministry of Water Resources and Energy has commenced emergency and long-term plans to tackle the problem.

The Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Lohnan V. Gambo, recently led a high-level delegation to Mabudi following a petition submitted by the council chairman to Governor Caleb Mutfwang.

During the visit, the ministry confirmed that geophysical surveys had already commenced in Mabudi and nearby communities as part of plans to establish sustainable water projects.

Gambo assured residents that the administration of Governor Mutfwang remained committed to finding a permanent solution to the lingering water shortage in Plateau communities.

The Council Secretary, Nanman Domtau, commended the state government for responding quickly to the plight of the people and pledged the council’s support for all intervention efforts.

Also speaking, the Galadima of Mabudi, Chief Ringjul Dashe, described access to clean water as a basic necessity of life and praised the government for responding to the concerns raised by residents.

According to UNICEF, Nigeria continues to face a severe clean water and sanitation crisis, with millions lacking access to safe drinking water and proper sanitation facilities despite the country’s abundant natural water resources.

The organisation estimates that poor access to clean water and sanitation contributes significantly to waterborne diseases and child mortality across the country, with thousands of children dying yearly from diarrhoeal infections linked to unsafe water.

‘No Water, No Vote’: Plateau Community Threatens Election Boycott