Plateau State Governor, Barrister Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, has inaugurated the chairman and members of the Plateau State Electoral Commission (PLASIEC), tasking them to ensure the conduct of free, fair, credible, and inclusive Local Government election in the state.
By James Moses (9News Nigeria -Jos)
Governor Mutfwang, while inaugurating officials of the electoral body on Monday at the new Government House, Little Rayfield, Jos, emphasised his administration’s mission to rectify past mistakes and ensure genuine grassroots governance in Plateau State.
He said: “We have come with a mission of correcting the mistakes of the past and ensuring that the people of Plateau State truly elect those who will govern them at the grassroots”.
He underscored the careful selection of the appointees, stressing that they were chosen based on their track records and experience in public service, following due screening hy the Plateau State House of Assembly.
“The last two local government elections in the state were misfits and undemocratic, dragging the name of the state into disrepute among the community of states in Nigeria, remarked Governor Mutfwang.
“This is an important and significant exercise for us because today marks a new dawn in the annals of PLASIEC, we have carefully selected those calibers of persons, particularly the chairman, who has been in the business of conducting elections for years”, he added.
He charged the appointees to uphold the tenets of democracy through the conduct of free and fair elections, pledging that his administration would not interfere in the affairs of PLASIEC.
“I am a firm believer in the efficacy and effectiveness of local government administration, and so we will allow the people to elect those who they want to lead them. Since we came on board we have not misused local government funds because we believe on having credible leadership at all the local levels”.
“I want to assure Plateau people that we will raise the bar of credible and reputable local government government elections, We will ensure true democracy takes place at the local levels. You are coming at a time when the Commission has trust deficit, and I, therefore charged you to conduct the local government elections in line with best global practices”, he affirmed.
The Chairman of the Commission, Hon. Planji Daniel Chishak, who until his appointment was a staff of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), expressed gratitude to the governor for the appointments and pledged to rebuild the confidence of Plateau residents in the Commission.
“We received this appointments with every sense of responsibility and humility. I want to assure you that, by the special grace of God, we will ensure credible elections in the local governments”.
Other members of the Commission are Theresa Kaze, Deborah Akanle, Waziri Kwande, Ado Adare, Audu Dorzhi, and Dr. Longman Pensiwan, while Pam Davou serves as the Secretary of the Commission.
-9News Nigeria.
