The Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Manhood Yakubu has charged the State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs), to stop the coronation of candidates and instead conduct proper elections in their states.
Manhood stated this on Wednesday in Abuja when he received the Executive members of the Forum of State Independent Electoral Commissions ((FOSIECOM), who paid him a courtesy visit.
“It is time to stop the coronation and conduct proper elections. State Governors should allow the SIECs to have greater capacity for independent action.
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”, he lamented.
Accordingly to him, having realising the 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”, he said.
“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)”, he added.
He further noted that, 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”.