From: Femi Oyelola , Kaduna
A group known as Civil Society Organizations Advocates has expressed dismay over the proposed scrapping of the State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECOMs) and plans to centralize local government elections.
This was contained in a statement signed by Founder/National Coordinator, ReSET Nigeria Laurence Obeweh, National President, Campaign for Democracy, Bako Abdul, Convener, Coalition of Associations for Peace, Empowerment and Development (CALPED), Stephen Waya and Founding Partner, Partnership for Issues-based Campaign in Nigeria (PICAN) Yusuf Ishaku Goje.
The group stressed that the move, though understandable, is contradictory to the principles of true and fiscal federalism and meaningful electoral reform.
According to them, the Justice Uwais Report on Electoral Reform, which recommended the unbundling of INEC, is a testament to this assertion for decentralized and specialized institutions to manage different aspects of the electoral process.
They added that local government elections to INEC’s already overwhelming responsibilities or any new institution would be a recipe for further political instability.
“Upon deeper reflection, we realized that everything we are afraid of about SIECOMs is what we have accused INEC of and will likely be replicated even in a new Commission.
“Tell us one election that INEC has conducted that the credibility was not questioned. Nonetheless, even some of the improvements we have witnessed in INEC are the result of system-strengthening reforms demanded by stakeholders. The same should be done to progressively strengthen SIECOMs and not them.”
