The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has called for the immediate scrapping of the State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECS), after the Supreme Court restored local government financial autonomy.
The council said that the states electoral bodies have become mere appendages of various government houses.
IPAC chairman Yusuf Dantalle disclosed this in Abuja, during a press briefing, saying that SIECs have proven to be incompetent and incapable of conducting free, fair, credible, transparent, inclusive, and peaceful elections.
He called for the implementation of the Supreme Court rulings and charged local government chairmen to reciprocate the gesture of this landmark ruling by the judicious utilization of the resources to deal with the several issues confronting Nigerians at the grassroots.
Dantalle said: “SIECs do not have voter registers, BVAS, IReV portals, ballot boxes, etc, essential in conducting credible polls. INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu rightly described Local Government elections as the coronation of candidates of the ruling political parties.
“The State Independent Electoral Commission is a dent on the nation’s hard-earned democracy. It is time to stop the charade called SIEC elections if we are serious and determined to deepen democracy in Nigeria.
“To restore confidence in the electoral process, INEC should be empowered and mandated to conduct all the Local Governments elections in Nigeria. Politics is local, citizens should be encouraged to actively participate in grassroots politics and contribute in building a better society. Nigerians desire and deserve credible elections as sovereignty resides in the people.”
IPAC hailed the Federal Government’s action in instituting the suit to liberate the 774 local governments from the clutches of the governors, describing it as the “best decision it has taken so far”.
IPAC described the ruling as a clear victory for sustainable democracy and development in Nigeria.
Dantalle added, “It is unfortunate that Governors who ought to have bolstered Local Government development in the country chose to suffocate it by retaining and utilizing funds meant for the Local Government Areas in flagrant violation of Section 162 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended.
“This is important as Governors who are used to diverting Local Governments funds for over two decades could seek ways to circumvent the apex court ruling by using State Houses of Assembly.
“The Supreme Court also declared that Local Governments must be governed by democratically elected officials contrary to the obnoxious appointment of Caretaker Committees to run the affairs of Councils.”
