From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
In a renewed push to restore public confidence in State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) as credible agents of grassroots democracy, the Forum of State Independent Electoral Commissions of Nigeria (FOSIECON) has outlined some strategic measures to rebrand and reposition the local election management bodies.
The recommendations were contained in a communique issued at the end of FOSIECON’s 13th National Delegates’ Conference (NDC), held in Jos, Plateau State from May 20-25, 2025.
The communique which was jointly signed by Barr. Jossy Eze, National Chairman; and Associate Professor Joseph Aremo, National Secretary of the Forum; called for the administrative independence and financial autonomy of SIECs to be prioritised, describing it as a necessary step towards strengthening their ability to deliver on their constitutional mandates.
“Improved autonomy is the foundation for restoring public trust in the conduct of local government elections. SIECs must also embark on regular public engagements with election stakeholders across the 774 local government areas as a way to address growing concerns about public perception and misinformation. Such efforts would help build public confidence in the capacity of SIECs to conduct credible and transparent polls,” the communique noted.
It also highlighted the critical role of political parties and citizens in enhancing democratic accountability. “Political parties, as the only platforms for nominating candidates for elections, should evolve mechanisms that support the emergence of leadership with proven integrity.”
It further called on the electorate to consistently monitor and assess the performance of their elected representatives in order to promote accountability, insisting that building on existing electoral reforms is very important for a sustainable system.
The communiqué recommended the extension of legal and institutional frameworks that have strengthened the operations of INEC to also apply to SIECs, noting that such reforms would enable more effective and standardised performance at the state level.
On legislative reforms, the communique urged State Houses of Assembly to adopt the relevant provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 regarding the procedure for conducting Local Government elections, stating that doing so would help ensure uniformity and certainty in the conduct of local government elections.
Additionally, the communique emphasised the importance of grassroots education and voter mobilisation, encouraging SIECs to deepen partnerships with civil society organisations and development partners to support voter education and civic engagement. “All politics is local. It is essential that SIECs become not just administrators of elections but champions of civic competence.”
The communique also rejected calls for the abolition of SIECs, labelling such proposals as “mischievous and anti-federalist” and reaffirmed that SIECs remain constitutionally protected and vital to Nigeria’s democratic development.