The Chairman of the Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission (PLASIEC), Mr. Plangji Daniel Cishak, has warned that scrapping State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) would be unconstitutional and disastrous for Nigeria’s democracy, particularly at the grassroots level.
Speaking in Jos on Tuesday during a press briefing ahead of the 13th National Delegates Conference of the Forum of State Independent Electoral Commissions of Nigeria (FOSIECON), Mr. Cishak argued that rather than abolish SIECs, the focus should be on strengthening them through reforms, adequate resourcing, and standardisation of processes.
“While some have questioned the independence of SIECs, we at PLASIEC believe that scrapping them is unconstitutional and catastrophic to the collective aspirations of our people for the creation of strong democratic structures at the grassroots,”
“Instead, we must pursue reform, capacity-building, and the standardisation of processes across the country.”He said
He stated that the October 2024 local government elections in Plateau State demonstrated that with the right leadership, resources, and institutional support, SIECs can deliver credible and inclusive elections.
The upcoming FOSIECON conference, scheduled to hold in Jos from May 21 to 23, will convene electoral officials, lawmakers, governors, and stakeholders to deliberate on the future of local elections under the theme: “Local Government Elections in Nigeria: Issues, Challenges and Opportunities.”
Mr. Cishak described the conference as an important moment for reflection and peer review, noting that SIECs across Nigeria must be seen not as obstacles, but as crucial platforms for building sustainable democratic governance from the bottom up.
He added that PLASIEC’s own internal reforms—including staff training, infrastructure upgrades, and a renewed emphasis on integrity, transparency, and electoral justice—serve as a model of what is possible when electoral institutions are allowed to function independently.
“Here in Plateau, we have shown that SIECs can work if given the right environment,”
“This conference will be an opportunity to reposition them nationally and ensure that local governance is driven by credible, democratic processes.” He emphasized.
