• INEC Rues poor funding, management of some SIECs
• SIECs plead for INEC's support to attain financial autonomy
'Seun Ibukun-Oni, Abuja
DAILY COURIER -
INEC Chairman noted that the conduct of Local Government elections is fundamental to the proper functioning of Nigeria's democracy. Regrettably, he said local government elections by SIECs in almost all the states are mere coronations of candidates of the ruling parties.
This was the position of Prof. Mahmood when he received on a courtesy call executive members of the Forum Of State Independent Electoral Commissions (FOSIECOM) yesterday 22nd May 2024.
He appealed to governors to Governors to allow the SIECs to have greater capacity for independent action. He rued the condition where many of the SIECs have no functional offices in the Local Government Areas in their States and cannot recruit their own 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" he bemoaned.
"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. In fact, 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 organise, 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).
"Realising our shared responsibility for the conduct of democratic elections in Nigeria and the challenges faced by SIECs in carrying out their mandates, INEC encouraged the establishment of FOSIECOM in a genuine effort to foster partnership for credible elections in Nigeria. Over the years, attempts were made to encourage the SIECs to maintain their independence. We signed an MoU under which assistance in the form of training, provision of some facilities, 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. We also established the joint INEC/FOSIECOM consultative Committee headed by a National Commissioner. All these initiatives were proposed and undertaken in the firm belief that by working together, the 36 SIECs will leverage on the experience of INEC for a progressive improvement in the conduct of Local Government elections in Nigeria.
"Unfortunately, the conduct of Local Government elections in virtually all the States of the Federation has become mere coronation of candidates of the ruling parties. It is time to stop the coronation and conduct proper elections. State Governors should allow the SIECs to have greater capacity for independent action. Many of the SIECs have no functional offices in the Local Government Areas in their States and cannot recruit their own 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 said.
In his address, the national chairman of Forum Of State Independent Electoral Commissions Of Nigeria (FOSIECON), Chief Jossy Chibundu Eze acknowledged the innovations introduced by INEC to make election more credible gave the it a pass mark.
He appealed to INEC to intensify its support to the struggle of SIECS, towards financial independence. He said: "our financial independence is not only achievable but a sine qua non for virile Local Government elections in Nigeria."
"We acknowledge the innovations brought into the Nigeria electoral system and the concerted efforts by INEC to deliver on its mandate. Without equivocations, we stand to say that INEC very substantially executed the elections and also gave hope on areas for continued improvement.
"The Independent National Electoral Commission is of course the closest partner to SIECs in Nigeria with respect to election management, thus various SIECs that have conducted elections recently, had a lot to leverage on the gains made by INEC
"The Forum and INEC have a long-standing MOU which has propelled our relationship. However, it is our ardent belief that the MOU needs urgent review to make it more functional and effective in the face of changing electoral needs, challenges and expectations.
"We hereby register our appreciation of INECS support to the struggle of
SIECS, towards financial independence. We strongly believe that our financial independence is not only achievable but a sine qua non for virile Local Government elections in Nigeria. FOSIECON has again recently submitted a memorandum to the National Assembly Committee on Constitutional amendment. We solicit INEC to throw its weight behind our quest for true independence" Eze stated.
