The Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission (PLASIEC) has declared that the insinuation that the charges for nomination forms for the October local government election are intended to disenfranchise non-ruling party candidates is unfounded, saying that its goal remains to facilitate a transparent and credible election that reflects the will of the people of Plateau State.
In a statement signed by its Head of Media Koro E. Yakubu, the Commission clarified that the fee of the nomination forms for the 2024 local government elections is in tandem with that of the 2021 local government elections conducted in the state.
It noted that such fees have been reviewed upwards in past election cycles, adding that it also took into consideration the present economic realities by maintaining the former fee in order to ensure a free and fair level playing field for interested candidates.
According to the Commission, even though other states have pegged their nomination forms for up to ten million naira and two million naira for the chairmanship and councillorship, respectively, the Commission remains committed to building confidence and carrying everyone in the electoral process along.
The Commission equally posited that this it did by making an exception for people living with disabilities to obtain the forms for free.
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“The current charges, which are consistent with those from previous election cycles, peg the cost for the chairmanship and their running mates at one million naira each with an additional two hundred and fifty thousand naira as administrative fees, while the councillorship contestants are required to pay five hundred thousand naira each with an additional one hundred thousand naira as administrative fees.”.
It added that the Commission’s commitment to conducting free and fair elections and continuity in the electoral process is evident in its engagements with all political parties through its meetings with the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC).
The Commission further reiterated that its guidelines are designed to uphold the integrity of the electoral process and ensure a level playing field for all candidates, regardless of their party affiliations.
“The suggestion that the charges for nomination forms are intended to disenfranchise non-ruling party candidates is unfounded, as the goal remains to facilitate a transparent and credible election that reflects the will of the people of Plateau State.”.
The Commission therefore urged all stakeholders to focus on constructive engagement and to work together to ensure a successful election, adding that PLASIEC remains open to dialogue and is committed to addressing any legitimate concerns raised by political parties and candidates.
