By Asile Abel,Jos
Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State swore in members of the Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission (PLASIEC), charged them to restore trust in the commission and conduct credible local government elections.
The governor expressed his belief in the effectiveness of the local government system and the importance of allowing people to elect their leaders.
“I therefore charge members of PLASIEC that you’re coming in at a time when the commission has a trust challenge. People no longer believe that state electoral commission should exist and they are even calling that it should be scrapped, I certainly don’t agree with that because we’re operating a federal system, ours is a federation and if people are worried about allowing local government system to work they should also allow the state to function.
“So the responsibility is yours that you rise to the occasion and set out modalities for credible elections that even international organisations will have to come and monitor. So we’re not joking about this”.
He denied allegations of misusing local government funds, stating that his administration has not touched the funds since coming into office.
“Let me say that I am a firm believer in effectiveness and efficacy in the local government system. I believe that government must come closer to the people and the only way we can get government and governance closer to the people is to allow the people themselves to elect those who they want to lead them.
Mutfwang explained that the previous PLASIEC was dissolved due to illegal constitution and a court judgment, and assured that the new commission will conduct elections that will meet international standards
“PLASIEC as it was then, was improperly constituted by illegal speaker and there is a court judgement to that effect. The speaker who confirmed their appointments was set aside by the court so for every action he took was against the law and in other not to be primitive and just wake up and announced dissolution, we took the matter to the house of assembly, everything we did was through the house and so nobody should just accuse us for dissolving them”.
The governor emphasized the importance of allowing the state to function in a federal system and encouraged the commission to write it’s names in gold by doing their best.
He congratulated the new members, led by Plangji Chishak as chairman with extensive experience in the electoral sector, and charged them to rise to the occasion and set modalities for credible elections.
Other nominees screened and confirmed include; Theresa Kaze – Member, Deborah Akanle – Member, and Ado Adare -Member.
Others were Waziri Kwande -Member, Audu Dorzhi- member, Langman Pensiwan – Member and Pam Davou – Secretary.
Responding on behalf of other members,
Chishak the chairman PLASIEC, promised to conduct a local government election that will be accepted by all.