Some Nigerian governors
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has called upon Nigeria’s 36 state governors to disclose comprehensive details regarding the State Independent Electoral Commissions operating within their jurisdictions.
This is in a bid to enhance transparency and accountability in the electoral process.
In an official statement on Sunday SERAP urged the governors to promptly reveal crucial information concerning the chairpersons and members of the SIECs, including their qualifications, political affiliations, if any, and the mechanisms surrounding their appointment.
Additionally, it emphasised the necessity for the governors to furnish the public with detailed reports regarding the outcomes of local government elections conducted since 1999, along with the voters’ registers associated with said elections.
Furthermore, it implored the governors to provide clarification regarding their states’ compliance with the provisions stipulated in the Nigerian Constitution of 1999, as amended, as well as international standards governing the conduct of periodic local government elections.
Highlighting the gravity of the situation, SERAP underscored concerns raised by the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, who recently lamented that local government elections across various states had devolved into mere rituals favoring candidates affiliated with the ruling parties.
In a Freedom of Information request dated June 1, 2024, and signed by SERAP’s deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organization stressed the constitutional obligation of state governors to establish and uphold the independence of electoral commissions, ensuring fair and impartial conduct of local government elections.
Expressing dismay over reported interference by state governors in the operations of SIECs, SERAP highlighted the detrimental impact such actions have on the fundamental right of Nigerian citizens to participate effectively in governance.
“The reported interference by state governors in the operations of SIECs and apparent manipulation of local government elections is incompatible with Nigerians’ right to effectively participate in their government,” it said.
In the pursuit of transparency and accountability, SERAP urged the governors to heed the call for action within seven days, failing which the organization threatened legal recourse to compel compliance in the public interest.
Drawing attention to the escalating crisis undermining the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process, SERAP emphasized the imperative of conducting elections under the auspices of truly independent and impartial electoral bodies, by constitutional provisions and international standards.
In light of the erosion of public trust and confidence in local government elections, the group urged state governors to prioritize the integrity, credibility, and independence of SIECs, thereby restoring faith in the electoral process and upholding the principles of democracy.
Furthermore, it highlighted systemic challenges plaguing SIECs, ranging from lack of capacity and independence to inadequate resources and improper constitution, emphasizing the urgent need for reform to safeguard electoral integrity and ensure the effective functioning of these crucial institutions.
Quoting relevant constitutional provisions, SERAP underscored the imperative of upholding the independence of SIECs and reiterated the call for governors to fulfill their constitutional and international obligations in promoting free, fair, and transparent elections at the local government level.
The statement read in part, “The Nigerian Constitution, Freedom of Information Act, and the country’s human rights obligations rest on the principle that citizens should have access to information regarding their public institutions’ activities.”
“The crisis confronting Nigerian elections and lack of public trust and confidence in local government elections can be addressed only if the elections are conducted by independent and impartial state electoral commissions and by the Nigerian Constitution and international standards.”
“Confidence in the country’s electoral process is increasingly on the decline. Many Nigerians are expressing concerns about the credibility and integrity of local government elections in your states.”
“The major problem facing the country’s democracy is the lack of respect for Nigerians’ right to participation and the concomitant lack of trust in election results. If citizens do not believe in the election process, then the entire system of democratic government becomes a questionable enterprise.”
“As its name suggests, SIEC is expected to maintain independence or absolute neutrality. SIECs must not only be independent and impartial but must also be seen to be independent and impartial.”
