By Willies Ugo, Gombe
July 7, 2025 | Newspointer News
Civil Society Organisations in Northeast Nigeria have called for the scrapping of State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) as part of the ongoing constitutional amendment process.
Speaking at the Senate’s public hearing on constitutional review in Maiduguri, the North East Civil Society Network (NECSN) urged the National Assembly to transfer the responsibility of conducting local government elections to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
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NECSN spokesperson, Shuaibu Dauda, said state governors exert undue influence over SIECs, undermining the credibility of local elections.
“We propose that the power to conduct LGA elections be vested solely in INEC,” Dauda stated.
The group said harmonizing electoral processes under INEC would promote transparency, reduce disputes, and improve trust in election outcomes.
NECSN proposed a constitutional amendment that would:
Eliminate SIECs,
Empower INEC to oversee local government polls,
Establish supporting legislation, and
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Strengthen INEC’s capacity to manage grassroots elections.
The coalition emphasized that electoral reforms are essential to safeguarding democracy and ensuring accountable governance at the local level.
