Governors and FOSIECON Reject Scrapping SIECs, Advocate for Electoral Reforms

Delegates Push for Stronger State Electoral Commissions

Delegates at the 13th National Delegates’ Conference of the Forum of State Independent Electoral Commissions of Nigeria (FOSIECON) in Jos have called for comprehensive reforms to strengthen State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs). The conference, supported by the European Union’s Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria programme, emphasized the need for enhanced financial and administrative autonomy to ensure credible local elections.

Leadership Recruitment Takes Center Stage

Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang redirected the conversation toward leadership quality, stating: “The conversation should begin with how we recruit leaders in this country. We must develop a strategy that helps us identify individuals who genuinely have the people’s interest at heart.” He argued that bad governance undermines democracy and leads to underdevelopment.

Nasarawa Offers to Pilot Reforms

Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule pledged support for conference outcomes, offering his state as a testing ground for proposed reforms. “I offer Nasarawa State for any pilot initiatives that may be proposed,” Sule declared, expressing confidence that many governors would support FOSIECON’s recommendations.

Experts Support SIEC Retention

Professor Samuel Egwu, in his keynote address, strongly advocated for retaining and reforming SIECs: “I support the retention and strengthening of SIECs because we operate a federal system of government.” He dismissed alternative proposals as incompatible with Nigeria’s federal structure.

FOSIECON Chairman Criticizes Legislative Proposals

FOSIECON Chairman Jossy Eze criticized pending National Assembly bills seeking to abolish SIECs without addressing their challenges. He highlighted the existence of multiple legislative proposals that threaten the current electoral framework.

INEC Calls for Process-Oriented Approach

INEC representative Dr. Oliver Agundu advised SIECs to view elections as continuous processes rather than isolated events, emphasizing the importance of post-election activities in democratic governance.

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