Plateau govt defends composition of state electoral commission

Plateau State government has dismissed rumours that the  names submitted to the state House of Assembly for approval as members of the State Independent Electoral Commission (PLASIEC) are cronies of Governor Simon Lalong  and his political associates.

The state chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hon. Damishi Sango had  said there was no need for a local government election until the determination of the suit filed by elected local government chairmen against the dissolution of their tenure.

Speaking Nigerian Tribune the Senior Special Adviser on Media to the governor, Mr. Dan Manjang said the government democracy at the local government level in the state.

According to him, the list of nominees sent to the house was a sign of  Lalong’s commitment to the issue, adding that as soon as the Assembly finished the screening and rectification, the date for local government election would be announced.

He said: “On the composition, you cannot please everybody, people must talk.The most important thing is doing the right thing. It has become the stock-in-trade  of some people to complain and condemn. If it was their cronies that were appointed they would still complain. The administration will not sacrifice merit for mediocrity; so far, the people appointed merit the work.

“The proposed chairman of the commission is an independent man and retired civil servant, he has just retired, he is not a card-carry member of any political party. The question people should ask is, is he qualify to do the job or not?”

He urged the opposition parties to stop whipping up sentiments but to play politics the way it should be, adding that Lalong was  willing and ready to provide a level-playing field for all.