LGA elections: Group changes state umpire on credible polls

By Musa Baba Adamu

Some Civil Society Organizations, (CSOs), in Gombe State have called on the Gombe State Independent Electoral Commission (GOSIEC) to ensure the conduct of free, fair and credible local government elections.
The Executive Secretary of the Alliance for Credible Elections, Mma Odi, stated the importance of the neutrality of electoral commissions in fostering free and fair polls, leading to good governance and accelerated development at the grassroots level.
Speaking with newsmen, Odi stated that an independent state electoral commission is crucial to ensuring transparent processes and the election of leaders dedicated to providing essential services across various local government areas.
The CSOs maintained that only when electoral bodies are free from external influence can they conduct credible elections that reflect the will of the people.
Odi pointed out that the last local government election in Gombe State was conducted in 2020 during Governor Muhammadu Yahaya’s administration.
She urged the empowerment of GOSIEC to guarantee credible polls in the upcoming elections scheduled for April 27, 2024.
“If electoral bodies are free, they will conduct credible elections. They will produce the right people, and there will be good governance. GOSIEC should be empowered,” Odi stated.
The CSOs are advocating for the active involvement of religious and traditional leaders in the electoral process, urging them to take ownership and ensure that the elections are free, fair, and credible, adding that a transparent election process would discourage individuals from seeking governance positions in the capital city due to a lack of amenities in their respective local government areas.