Our reporter
Seray Jah, the Country Director of the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), has commended the Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission (PLASIEC) for its dedication, which contributed to the successful conduct of the local government elections held on October 9, 2024, in Plateau State.
Mr. Jah gave this commendation during the opening of a three-day post-election review workshop in Jos, Plateau State.
He acknowledged the support of international partners, including the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), for their commitment to promoting democracy and good governance in Nigeria.
Emphasizing the importance of stakeholder engagement, Mr. Jah explained that the workshop aimed to facilitate discussions, evaluate election outcomes, learn from experiences, and recommend improvements.
He urged participants to be candid, stressing that their insights would be crucial for building stronger electoral systems.
In his remarks, PLASIEC Chairman Mr. Plangji Daniel Cishak expressed gratitude to IFES for its support and for playing a vital role in enhancing democracy in Plateau State.
Represented by the Commission’s Secretary, Mr. Pam Gyang, Mr. Cishak explained that the workshop’s purpose was to critically evaluate the recently conducted local government elections in order to identify successes and areas for improvement, ultimately enhancing future election processes.
Mr. Cishak also highlighted the contributions of IFES in partnering with the Commission, noting that PLASIEC was selected as one of six model electoral bodies for this partnership, which he regarded as an honor for the Commission.
The PLASIEC Chairman praised Governor Caleb Mutfwang for fostering a non-interfering and transparent governance atmosphere, which empowered PLASIEC to conduct independent elections.
The three-day event is being attended by key stakeholders, including election officials, security agencies, civil society organizations, election observers, and members of the media.