From Jude Owuamanam Jos
Challenges facing the conduct of local government elections would come under focus as Plateau State is billed to host the 13th National Delegates Conference of the Forum of Independent Electoral Commissions of Nigeria (FOSIECON).
The three-day event scheduled for between May 21 and 23 has the theme: “Local government elections in Nigeria: Issues, challenges and opportunities.”
Chairman of the Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission (PLASIEC), Plangji Daniel Cishak, said no fewer than 304 delegates drawn from the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory would be in attendance.
The delegates, according to him, will include chairmen, commissioners and secretaries of various State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs)
He said the theme calls for sober reflection, informed debate and actionable outcomes.
“In addition, we are expecting three serving governors, representatives of the Forum of Nigerian House of Assembly Speakers, and members of the National Assembly—particularly the Senate and House Committees on Electoral Matters.
“Their participation underscores the national significance of the issues on the table and reflects a shared commitment to strengthening local governance through credible elections. We are also grateful for the support of DAI International Development in working with FOSIECON and other institutions to advance electoral reforms, civic engagement, and institutional resilience.
“As we prepare to welcome the nation to the Plateau, it is also fitting to reflect on the deliberate steps we have taken within the Commission to strengthen our institutional capacity. Beyond the conduct of elections, PLASIEC has invested in expanding its infrastructure and equipping its offices to ensure readiness for electoral duties at all times.
“More importantly, we have prioritized the development of our human capital—organizing targeted training programmes, workshops, aimed at equipping our staff with the requisite knowledge and skills for credible electoral administration. These measures are grounded in our belief that sustainable electoral reform begins from within.”
He said it was inappropriate to call for scrapping of SIEC.