Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission (PLASIEC) has stated that the October 9 local government election will mark a significant milestone as the commission is introducing Voter Verification Software (VVS) developed by its ICT team for the first time.
This was made known by the commission chairman Plangji Cishak during a stakeholders meeting in Jos at the weekend.
According to him, the innovation is designed to ensure that only eligible voters can cast their votes, a crucial step toward making sure that the voices of the Plateau people are heard and respected.
Chishak explained that massive infrastructural investments have been made to cater for the effective deployment of this innovation.
He also disclosed that the commission has established contacts with various election observers who will monitor the electoral process, providing an additional layer of transparency and credibility.
“In a strategic effort to secure our election, we have inaugurated the Plateau State Advisory Consultative Committee on Election Security (PLACCES). This initiative is critical to ensuring the safety of citizens and election officials alike”.
The PLASIEC boss further noted that they are committed to ensuring a peaceful election, knowing that there will be life beyond this day.
He stressed that as they continue preparations, a mock election which was conducted on September 28, will serve as a test run for the Voter Verification Software that will help to identify any potential challenges before the actual election day.
“Our goal is to ensure that everything runs seamlessly on October 9, and we are dedicated to learning from this mock election to enhance our processes”.
According to him, they are committed to creating stable democratic institutions at the grassroots level that align perfectly with Governor Caleb Mutfwang’s vision.
He argued that the commission is aware of the historical context that has shaped perceptions of state independent electoral commissions (SIECs) in Nigeria. He added that citizens have lost confidence due to past irregularities and insist that they are ready to change this narrative.
