State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) across Nigeria, established and controlled by state governors, have come under intense scrutiny for their alleged lack of independence and fairness in conducting local government elections. Critics argue that these commissions often function as extensions of the governors’ offices, selecting and installing loyalists as council leaders rather than conducting genuine elections. This practice has led some to derogatorily refer to SIECs as “State Electoral Selection Commissions.”
Political analysts point to the frequent “landslide” victories by ruling parties in local elections as evidence of SIECs’ manipulation. In many cases, governors saturate these commissions with their cronies, including kinsmen, political associates, and party members, ensuring that their preferred candidates win.
For example, in 2018, the Kaduna State local government elections, overseen by a relatively independent SIEC under then-Governor Nasir el Rufai, saw the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) win several key seats, a rarity in Nigerian local government elections. This is seen as an exception that proves the rule: when state governors do not interfere, SIECs can conduct fairer elections.
However, in most states, the situation is different. In the recent Kebbi State local government elections on August 31, 2024, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) won all the Chairmanship and Councilorship positions, a result criticized as a sham. The PDP boycotted the election, accusing the Kebbi SIEC of being biased, with its leadership allegedly comprising APC members.
Similar controversies have arisen in other states. In Delta State, the APC withdrew from the July 13, 2024, local government elections, citing bias by the state’s SIEC, which resulted in the PDP sweeping nearly all the seats. In Ebonyi State, the recent local elections saw the ruling APC win all positions amid accusations of partisanship by the state SIEC.
The debate over SIECs’ credibility has fueled calls for administrative autonomy for local governments, with some advocating for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to take over the conduct of local elections. Proponents argue that this would ensure more transparency and fairness in the electoral process at the grassroots level.
However, not everyone supports this idea. Professor Chris Chimdubem Ngwu, Chairman of the Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission, opposes the notion of INEC taking over local elections, arguing that INEC already has its hands full with national elections and that it is not necessarily a model of electoral transparency itself.
As the battle over local government elections continues, the issue of SIEC’s independence and the fairness of local polls remains a contentious topic in Nigeria’s political landscape.
