INEC Reject Scrapping of State Commissions, Call for Reform

Delegates at the 13th National Conference of the Forum of State Independent Electoral Commissions (FOSIECON) in Jos have rejected calls to scrap the State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs), urging instead for comprehensive reforms.

Backed by the European Union’s Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria programme, the conference focused on strengthening local election administration.

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Speakers, including Prof. Samuel Egwu, Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang, Nasarawa Governor Abdullahi Sule, FOSIECON Chair Jossy Eze, and INEC’s Oliver Agundu, argued that reform, not abolition, was needed to ensure the independence and effectiveness of SIECs.

Egwu said maintaining SIECs respects Nigeria’s federal structure. “Federalism demands local rule. Transferring local elections to INEC undermines that logic,” he said.

Eze criticised political interference in SIECs, warning that proposed bills to scrap or restructure them fail to address core issues.

Governor Mutfwang called for better leadership recruitment and efficiency at the local level. “Autonomy alone is not the solution. We must prioritise effective governance,” he said.

INEC’s Agundu urged SIECs to treat elections as continuous processes and engage civil society more effectively.