Governors have turned LG elections to ‘mere coronation’ – INEC chair

During a recent meeting with the Forum of State Independent Electoral Commissions, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, expressed apprehension regarding the integrity of local government elections in Nigeria.

He highlighted that these elections often resemble mere ceremonies to install candidates from the ruling party rather than fair democratic processes. Yakubu emphasized the urgent need for substantial reforms to ensure transparency and credibility in these elections.

Additionally, he criticized state governors for impeding the autonomy of State Independent Electoral Commissions, thereby hindering their ability to function independently.

He observed that numerous State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) lack operational offices, permanent staff, and the necessary job security to ensure fair elections.

Recognizing the collective duty for overseeing democratic elections in Nigeria and the obstacles SIECs encounter in fulfilling their roles, INEC promoted the formation of FOSIECOM to promote collaboration for credible elections in Nigeria.

Regrettably, local government elections in most states have devolved into mere ceremonies to endorse ruling party candidates. It is imperative to end this practice of endorsement and instead conduct genuine elections.

State governors need to empower the State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) to operate more independently.

The lack of functional offices in local government areas and the inability to hire permanent staff hinder their effectiveness, according to Mahmood.

He criticized the practice of forming SIECs right before elections and disbanding them immediately afterward, with government officials often taking over important duties.

Mahmood also pointed out the significant underfunding of SIECs, forcing them to rely on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for basic election materials.

This reliance has caused confusion among the public, blurring the distinction between SIECs and INEC. In certain states, SIECs face issues such as improper constitution, lack of job security, or having their responsibilities usurped by government officials. Some SIECs are only established shortly before elections and dissolved thereafter.

INEC Chairman Yakubu highlighted the significant lack of resources faced by State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs), to the point where some SIECs depend on INEC for basic necessities like ballot boxes and voting booths.

Due to INEC’s extensive duties and limited federal funding, Yakubu clarified that INEC’s assistance to SIECs would mainly focus on providing the voters register as required by law.

He emphasized that INEC cannot offer unlimited support beyond its constitutional obligations, as many Nigerians confuse SIECs with INEC, even referring to them as state INEC.

This misunderstanding has prompted a reassessment of the relationship between INEC and SIECs, with support now primarily centered around providing the voters register in accordance with the constitution.

Yakubu highlighted that INEC is unable to fully handle its extensive duties and simultaneously provide nearly unlimited assistance to other independent electoral commissions for elections beyond our scope nationwide due to our limited federal budget.

He emphasized the clear boundaries between the responsibilities of INEC and SIECs, explaining that while INEC oversees elections in the Federal Capital Territory, SIECs are in charge of elections for 768 local government chairmen and 8,747 councillors across the country.

Yakubu also showcased the successful FCT elections conducted by INEC as a blueprint for local government elections nationwide, emphasizing enhancements such as stable tenures for elected officials, regular election cycles, and varied electoral results. He underscored that no single political party has ever dominated all constituencies in the Area Councils.

INEC is well aware of the ongoing discussions regarding the future of elections for local government chairmen and councillors in Nigeria.

As per the current law, the responsibility for electing these officials lies with the 36 SIECs, totaling 9,515 constituencies.

INEC oversees elections for 68 constituencies in the FCT, which include Area Council chairmen and councillors. Our aim has been for these FCT elections to set a standard for local government elections nationwide.

Despite facing challenges, there has been noticeable progress in how Area Council elections are conducted in the FCT.

Chairmen and councillors now have a secure four-year tenure, regular elections are held without caretaker committees, and electoral outcomes show diversity with no single party dominating all constituencies.

With joy, the Electoral Act 2022, which currently regulates national and Area Council elections, has been extended to cover local government elections throughout the country.

This expansion was achieved through collaborative efforts between INEC and FOSIECOM, following extensive discussions on the need for a standardized law to govern local government elections nationwide.

The Chairman of INEC urged FOSIECOM to tackle the legal and financial obstacles impeding their work and to boldly safeguard the honesty and trustworthiness of elections.

He emphasized that genuine independence is not only derived from legal or financial support but also from a steadfast dedication to democratic values.

Hence, I urge FOSIECOM to tackle the challenge head-on. Despite facing legal and financial limitations, your autonomy is not solely dependent on statutory or financial regulations.

Success in safeguarding the honesty and trustworthiness of elections hinges on the boldness with which you fulfill your duty. There are no quick fixes in carrying out this significant role.

Rest assured, INEC is committed to collaborating with you to advance electoral reform. By joining forces, we must diligently explore all lawful means to enhance the organization of Local Government Elections in Nigeria.

It was emphasized that while INEC and other parties can offer assistance, the initiative to take action must come from within you.

This sentiment was expressed by a former House of Representatives member on May 13, 2024, who advocated for local government elections to be conducted by INEC instead of State Electoral Commissions.

The reasoning behind this proposal is that having INEC oversee these elections would reduce the potential for manipulation by governors.