Key stakeholders across Nigeria’s electoral and political landscape have pushed back against calls to abolish State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs), urging instead for their reform and empowerment.
The rejection came at the 13th National Delegates Conference of the Forum of State Independent Electoral Commissions of Nigeria (FOSIECON), held in Jos, Plateau State. The conference, supported by the European Union through its Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN) programme, brought together state governors, electoral commission heads, and INEC officials to address challenges facing local election administration.
Rather than dissolving SIECs, delegates argued for strengthening them through institutional reforms that would guarantee their independence and operational efficiency.
Professor Samuel Egwu, a leading speaker at the event, defended the continued existence of SIECs, saying federalism demands strong local governance. “We must respect the logic of federalism. Strengthening SIECs aligns with that goal,” he said. He dismissed alternatives such as handing local elections to INEC or creating a new election bureau, noting such moves undermine the principles of decentralization. A recent proposal to create a new body, he pointed out, had already been defeated in the Senate.
FOSIECON Chairman, Jossy Eze, said the problem was not with the existence of SIECs, but the political pressure they face. “SIECs are constitutionally recognized, yet constantly under siege by vested interests. The debate should be about reforms, not abolishment,” he said. He also noted that current legislative proposals miss the mark by ignoring structural and systemic weaknesses.
Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang stressed the importance of focusing on leadership selection and performance at the grassroots. “Autonomy is not the full story. What we need is efficiency and genuine commitment to public service at the local level,” he said, drawing from his experience as a former local government chairman.
Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule threw his weight behind the reform agenda, offering his state as a pilot for any new initiatives developed at the conference. “We’ve done similar reform work with our House of Assembly, and we’re ready to do the same with our SIEC,” he said.
INEC representative Oliver Agundu echoed calls for deeper reform, urging SIECs to view elections as a continuous cycle rather than a one-time event. He also stressed the importance of working closely with civil society groups and prioritizing voter education.
“Many SIECs become dormant outside election seasons. This has to change. Elections don’t end at the polls—they involve post-election processes too,” he said.
The gathering concluded with a strong consensus: SIECs should not be scrapped but restructured to function more independently, efficiently, and transparently, in line with Nigeria’s commitment to true federalism and democratic development.
Leave a Reply