TARABA COUNCIL POLLS: TSIEC MOVES TO WIN PARTIES’ CONFIDENCE, PROMISES CREDIBLE ELECTIONS

Commission prepares to fill vacant councillorship seats in Jalingo, Wukari, Donga

By Taraba News | Jalingo

The Taraba State Independent Electoral Commission (TSIEC) has opened a fresh engagement with political parties in the state, pledging to strengthen confidence in the electoral process and ensure that the choices of voters are reflected in local government elections.

Chairman of the Commission, Hon. Bala Job Aji, gave the assurance on Tuesday during a familiarisation meeting with representatives of political parties at the TSIEC Conference Hall in Jalingo.

Aji said cooperation between the electoral commission and political parties would be critical to conducting peaceful, free, fair and credible elections in Taraba State.

According to him, the meeting was convened not only to familiarise the new leadership of the Commission with political stakeholders but also to establish a stronger working relationship ahead of future electoral exercises.

“The purpose of this meeting is for familiarization and to strengthen the relationship between TSIEC and political parties, with emphasis on conducting credible elections in the state,” Aji said.

He stressed that disagreement and mistrust between the Commission and political parties could undermine the electoral process, saying TSIEC would encourage engagement rather than division.

“We can only achieve this when we are united. Division between TSIEC and political parties will not be allowed,” he said.

THREE COUNCILLORSHIP SEATS VACANT

The TSIEC chairman also disclosed that three councillorship seats are currently vacant across Donga, Wukari and Jalingo Local Government Areas.

He said the Commission was putting necessary structures in place to fill the vacancies.

Although no timetable for the elections was announced at the meeting, the disclosure could signal preparations for electoral activities in the affected areas.

Aji assured political parties that the Commission would work towards an electoral process capable of reflecting the genuine choice of voters.

He pledged that TSIEC would ensure that “the true verdict of Tarabans is reflected on the ballot.”

PARTIES DEMAND TECHNOLOGY

Responding on behalf of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Taraba State chapter, its Deputy Chairman, Alhaji Saadu Abubakar, commended the new leadership of TSIEC for initiating dialogue with political parties.

Abubakar, who represented the state IPAC Chairman, Hon. Abubakar Bawa, described the engagement as an important step towards building confidence between the Commission and political stakeholders.

Political party representatives at the meeting pledged their cooperation with TSIEC but called on the Commission to embrace modern technology in conducting elections.

They argued that greater deployment of technology could help reduce electoral irregularities and strengthen public confidence in the outcome of council elections.

The stakeholders also congratulated Governor Agbu Kefas on the appointment of Aji, expressing hope that his experience would help reposition the state electoral commission.

The meeting ended with both TSIEC and representatives of political parties committing themselves to peaceful and credible local government elections.

Attention will now turn to the Commission’s next steps regarding the three vacant councillorship seats, including the release of an election timetable and guidelines for interested political parties.For the front page, I would use the main headline “TARABA COUNCIL POLLS: TSIEC MOVES TO WIN PARTIES’ CONFIDENCE” with the rider “Prepares to fill vacant seats in Jalingo, Wukari, Donga • Parties demand deployment of technology.”