Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau inaugurated Plangji Chishak as chairman and six other members of the Plateau State Independent Election Commission (PLASIEC) on Monday.

On June 4, the governor forwarded the appointees’ names to the state House of Assembly for confirmation.

Speaking at the event in Jos, Mr Mutfwang said the appointees were carefully selected based on their track records and experience in public service.

”This is very important and significant because today marks a new dawn in the annals of PLASIEC.

”The last two local government elections in the state were the most shameful and disgraceful, and they gave us a bad name.

”This is why we carefully selected this calibre of persons, particularly the chairman, who has been in the business of conducting elections for years, he said.

The governor, who charged the appointees to uphold the tenets of democracy through free and fair elections, said his administration would not interfere in its activities.

”I am a firm believer in the efficacy and effectiveness of the local government administration, so we will allow the people to elect those who they want to lead them.

”I want to assure Plateau people that we will raise the bar of credible and reputable local government elections and ensure that true democracy takes place at the local levels.

”You are coming when the commission has a trust deficit; therefore, I charge you to conduct local government elections concomitantly with global best practices,” he said.

Earlier, the chairman thanked the governor for finding them worthy of the appointments and promised to rebuild the confidence of Plateau residents in the commission.

Mr Chishak also promised that the commission would be open, fair and transparent in all its dealings.

Members of the commission include Theresa Kaze, Deborah Akanle, Waziri Kwande, and Ado Adare.

Other members are Audu Dorzhi, Longman Pensiwan and Pam Davou, the commission’s secretary.

(NAN)