Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Prof. Mahmood Yakubu on Monday strategically pushed the boundaries of electoral reform by challenging the chairmen of State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIEC) to save Nigeria’s democracy by conducting credible local government council elections instead of the current coronation of candidates of ruling parties at the various state local government elections

Prof. Yakubu, threw the challenge when he received the chairman and other executive members of the Forum of State Electoral Commissions (FOSIECOM), at the INEC headquarters in Abuja.

“It is time to stop the coronation and conduct proper elections. State Governors should allow the SIECs to have greater capacity for independent action”, Prof. Yakubu said adding that: ” Many of the SIECs have no functional offices in the Local Government Areas in their States and cannot recruit their permanent staff”.

The INEC boss lamented that in some States, the SIECs are either not properly constituted, have no security of tenure or their critical functions have been taken over by government officials.

His words: “Some SIECs are only constituted on the eve of elections and dissolved thereafter. They are also severely under-resourced to the extent that some of them rely on INEC even for basic facilities such as ballot boxes and voting cubicles”.

But FOSIECOM members left the National Headquarters of INEC with some good news as Prof. Yakubu assured: “I want to reassure you that INEC will continue to work with you to push the boundaries of electoral reform. Working together, we should continue to explore all avenues under the law to improve the conduct of Local Government Elections in Nigeria. However, you should always bear in mind that INEC and other stakeholders can only help you, but there must be a determination on your part to do the needful.

“Both INEC and SIECs are creations of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended). The conduct of Local Government elections is fundamental to the proper functioning of our democracy. Sections 153 and 197 of the Constitution establish INEC and SIECs as two distinct and independent bodies with powers under the Third Schedule Part I (F) (14-15) and Part II (B)[3-4] to organize, undertake and supervise elections.

“While SIECs are responsible for the conduct of Local Government elections for Chairmen and Councillors, INEC conducts all other executive and legislative polls from presidential and governorship to national and State legislative elections. Our mandates are therefore clearly defined by the Constitution.

“However, INEC is also empowered by Section 98 of the Electoral Act 2022 to conduct Local Government or Area Council elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Prof. Yakubu stressed.

The INEC boss lamented that over the years, attempts were made by INEC to encourage the SIECs to maintain their independence stressing that: “we signed an MoU under which assistance in the form of training, provision of some facilities, the institutionalisation of the culture of planning through the development of a strategic plan, holding regular meetings with stakeholders, encouraging the SIECs to participate in our retreats and accrediting their officials to observe our elections”.

The INEC boss advised state governors to allow the SIECs to have a greater capacity for independent action, regretting that most of the SIECs have no functional offices in the Local Government Areas in their States and cannot recruit their permanent staff. In some States, the SIECs are either not properly constituted, have no security of tenure or their critical functions have been taken over by government officials.

“Some SIECs are only constituted on the eve of elections and dissolved thereafter. They are also severely under-resourced to the extent that some of them rely on INEC even for basic facilities such as ballot boxes and voting cubicles.”

He stated further that “INEC is not unaware of the ongoing discussions about the future of elections for the 774 Local Government Chairmen as well as Councillors representing the 8,809 electoral wards in Nigeria. However, under the extant law, the 36 SIECs are responsible for the election of 768 Local Government Chairmen and 8,747 Councillors, making a total of 9,515 constituencies. INEC conducts elections for the 68 constituencies in the FCT made up of 6 Area Council Chairmen and 62 Councillors, including bye-elections as they arise.

“It has been our earnest hope that the elections conducted by INEC in the FCT will provide a model for Local Government elections across the country. Despite the challenges encountered, there has been a progressive improvement in the conduct of the Area Council Elections in the FCT. There is security of tenure for Chairmen and Councillors which is now four years. There are no caretaker committees as elections are held regularly. There is plurality in electoral outcomes as no single party has ever won elections in all the constituencies in the Area Councils,” he declared.

In his address, Chief Jossy Chibindu Eze, National Chairman of FOSIECON expressed appreciation to INEC for the opportunities always extended to SIECS to formally observe its elections stressing that the experience garnered over time has greatly enhanced SIECS’s capacity and disposition in its election management.

Chief Eze said the long-standing MOU between the Forum and INEC has propelled our relationship stressing that the MOU needs urgent review to make it more functional and effective in the face of changing electoral needs,
challenges and expectations.

According to him, there is a dire need to develop a new strategic work plan for support to SIECS.

“The last plan was from 2019 to 2023. As EMB, we cannot afford not to effectively operate with a strategic plan that captures current and
emerging issues in elections”.

He commended INEC’s support of the struggle of SIECS, toward financial independence adding that:” our financial independence is not only achievable but a sine qua non for virile Local Government elections in Nigeria”.