‘We will conduct credible LG polls’

The Benue State Independent Electoral Commission (BSIEC) on Monday said it would conduct credible, free and fair local government polls in the state.

Chairman of the commission, Dr John Tsuwa, said this while interacting with newsmen in Makurdi.

He said that the commission, under his leadership, would deliver on its mandate of transparent and credible elections.

Tsuwa said that the forthcoming council elections in the state would be transparent, adding that the masses must choose and vote in their leaders.

“Nothing is going to stop us from conducting credible, free and fair local government elections in Benue.

“This is because we already know what it means for the masses to choose their leaders; every vote must count in the forthcoming council polls in the state.

“My mission is very simply, to establish a commission that would deliver on its mandate where the masses would be proud of the outcome of the council polls in the state,” he said.

He denied allegations that he was a card-carrying member of the All Progressive Congress (APC) before his appointment.
Tsuwa said that he had never been a member of any political party in the last 10 years.

“As a lecturer, it is against the university law to belong to any political party. For the last 10 years I was a lecturer at the Benue State University (BSU) before my appointment.

“So, it is not possible for me to be a member any party within this period,” he said.

He disclosed that the commission lacked functional vehicles, logistics, among others things, to effectively conduct elections.

The chairman appealed to stakeholders and political parties to have faith in the commission, assuring that the commission would not disappoint the people.