In its effort to ensure that credible polls are conducted in Plateau State as the 2015 elections get closer, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has set up a 23 man committee to assisted the commission in voter education and publicity.

Resident Electoral Commissioner in the State, Hon. Habu Zarma said at the inauguration of the State Inter-Agency Advisory Committee on Voter Education and Publicity on Tuesday in Jos, that, “The purpose of the committee which is being inaugurated today is to put in place modalities to educate the electorate and enlighten the citizens about specifics and mechanisms of the electoral process and also inform them of their rights and responsibles.

In its effort to ensure that credible polls are conducted in Plateau State as the 2015 elections get closer, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has set up a 23 man committee to assisted the commission in voter education and publicity.

Resident Electoral Commissioner in the State, Hon. Habu Zarma said at the inauguration of the State Inter-Agency Advisory Committee on Voter Education and Publicity on Tuesday in Jos, that, “The purpose of the committee which is being inaugurated today is to put in place modalities to educate the electorate and enlighten the citizens about specifics and mechanisms of the electoral process and also inform them of their rights and responsibles.

“Unfortunately, there is still intolerably high percentage of voided votes traceable to limited knowledge and awareness, too few females participating in elections as candidates and other disadvantage groups are still left out of the process.

The REC who was represented by the Administrative Secretary of the Commission, Usman Bukar, said, “It is also sad to note that too many vices inimical to the democratic process still exist, such as violence, intimidation, unauthorized use of force, multiple registration, vote buying, snatching of electoral materials, to name just a few.

“It is also worthy of note that the strategies to curb these excesses have not been too successful due to perhaps the fact that previous efforts have always been reactive rather than being proactive.

“Hence the need to identify and close the gaps in the overall voter education programme has become imperative.

Stressing that, now is the right time to develop an efficient, effective and sustainable programme in order to achieve the desired goal.

He added that, the commission will commence issuance of Permanent Voters Card (PVC) in the State from 22nd to 24th August, 2014.

Zarma warned that, suspected underaged persons would not be issued the Permanent Voters Card.

Membership of the committee is drawn from INEC, NOA, NUJ, Women groups, CAN, JNI, among others.

The terms of reference include, review the existing framework and advice the Commission on areas of improvement, profer advice on effective strategies for public enlightenment and voter education, among others.

count | 57

INEC Inaugurates Committee on Voter Education in Plateau