The Chairman of the Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission (PLASIEC), Hon. Plangji Daniel Cishak, hosted the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mallam Mohammed Abubakar Sadiq, during a courtesy visit to PLASIEC headquarters in Jos.
Hon. Cishak described the visit as a sign of renewed collaboration between the two electoral bodies, noting that INEC and PLASIEC have shared responsibilities at different levels of elections. He expressed confidence in Mallam Sadiq’s experience as a former staff member of INEC and now a REC, saying PLASIEC looks forward to benefiting from his wealth of knowledge.
Speaking on PLASIEC’s progress, Cishak explained how the commission has been gradually improving infrastructure and staff capacity despite initial challenges. He said their goal is to build an institution that will earn public trust and deliver credible local elections.
He highlighted the development of a Voter Verification System (VVS), a locally developed app aimed at enhancing voter accreditation. While the initial test faced hardware and back-end challenges, he said plans are underway to acquire devices and improve the technology with government support.
The PLASIEC Chairman appealed to INEC to collaborate in distributing uncollected Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), noting that the cards were produced for citizens and should not be left unused in offices. He said PLASIEC is ready to assist in ensuring more people collect their PVCs.
Cishak also called for adjustments in constituency representation during future constitutional amendments. He cited Jos North with over 800 polling units but only one state constituency, describing such imbalances as unfair and a burden during elections.
He concluded by seeking INEC’s support in capacity building, training, and electoral reforms, assuring Mallam Sadiq of PLASIEC’s full cooperation and commitment to credible electoral processes in Plateau State.
During the courtesy visit, Mallam Mohammed Abubakar Sadiq, emphasized the close working relationship between INEC and PLASIEC, describing them as “sister organisations” with shared responsibilities in conducting credible elections in Nigeria.
“We have a common mandate,” he stated. “INEC is in charge of presidential, gubernatorial, and National Assembly elections, while PLASIEC oversees elections at the local government level. Our roles complement each other.”
Mallam Sadiq explained that the purpose of his visit was to officially introduce himself to the leadership and staff of PLASIEC, having assumed duty in Plateau State just two months ago. He described the visit as a move to foster the strong institutional ties that already exist between the two commissions.
The REC also provided updates on the forthcoming Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise in Plateau State, revealing that the process will resume on August 18, 2025.
He said, “A platform will be provided where prospective registrants that have met the requirements can access and register. After which, on the 25th of August, they can approach us with their slip, and then we take their biometrics, and they are registered.”
