Janet Samuel
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has urged State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) across Nigeria to raise the standard of local government elections, drawing lessons from the successful electoral model of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, made this call during a courtesy visit by the executive members of the Forum of State Independent Electoral Commissions of Nigeria (FOSIECON) to the Commission’s headquarters on Tuesday, in Abuja
Prof. Yakubu congratulated the new FOSIECON leadership and reiterated INEC’s readiness to continue its support to SIECs through technical assistance, capacity building, and knowledge sharing, noting that while both bodies are creations of the Constitution, INEC bears exclusive responsibility for crucial electoral processes such as voter registration, creation of polling units, and regulation of political parties, all of which are shared with SIECs to support local council elections.
He stressed the need for strict compliance with the Electoral Act 2022, especially provisions governing the conduct of local government elections. Which according to him, Sections 98 to 113 of the Act—applied in the FCT—should guide SIECs across all states cited the FCT’s example, where elections are held regularly with proper timelines, and where no single political party dominates all council seats, as evidence of a healthy democratic process.
Prof. Yakubu raised concerns over the increasing trend of SIECs announcing elections with only a few weeks’ notice. Referring to a recent Supreme Court ruling, he condemned the practice of issuing 21-day notices for local government polls, calling it both a legal violation and a logistical impossibility. “You can’t expect political parties to organize primaries, campaigns, and for the electoral body to prepare logistics and training within such a short window,” he warned.
The INEC Chairman further emphasized the importance of forward planning in electoral administration, cited early release, 360 days ahead of the timetable for the next FCT Area Council election scheduled for February 2026, urging SIECs to emulate this level of preparedness.
He described local government elections as the bedrock of democracy and development, noting that their credibility must not be compromised.
In his remarks, FOSIECON Chairman and head of the Kogi State Independent Electoral Commission, Hon. Mamman Nda Eri, thanked INEC for its continued support and expressed the forum’s commitment to deeper collaboration, saying the new leadership of FOSIECON is determined to promote electoral transparency, institutional synergy, and democratic values, especially at the grassroots level.
Hon. Eri raised concerns about the implementation of the Supreme Court judgment which mandates extended notice for elections. He pointed out that most state laws still allow for only 90 days’ notice, creating a legal contradiction. He also lamented the financial dependence of most SIECs on their respective state governments, which hampers their ability to conduct elections that meet national standards.
He appealed to INEC to advocate for financial autonomy for state electoral bodies, saying such independence would enable them to plan and execute credible local polls. “We believe if INEC can lend its voice to the call for financial autonomy, many challenges SIECs face would be addressed,” he said, adding that collaboration remains key to improving grassroots democracy.
