Saturday, February 15, 2025

YIAGA Africa Calls for SIEC Reforms to Strengthen Local Government Elections

Youth Initiative for Advocacy, Growth and Advancement (YIAGA) Africa has called for constitutional reforms to empower State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) and enhance the credibility of local government elections in Nigeria.

Speaking at a book launch honoring Prof. Nnamdi Aduba in Jos, Samson Itodo, Executive Director of YIAGA Africa, emphasized the need for structural and operational changes to address the weaknesses in SIECs.

He cited issues such as political interference and lack of financial autonomy as major obstacles to credible elections.

SIECs are currently constrained by their dependency on governors for operational guidelines and funding. This undermines their ability to conduct free, fair, and credible elections,” Itodo said.

He urged stakeholders to prioritize reforms that would grant SIECs full independence, similar to the advancements seen in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Itodo lamented the prevalence of irregularities in recent local government elections across 17 states, attributing the situation to systemic flaws in the SIEC framework.

He also criticized politicians for sabotaging electoral integrity, forcing INEC to rely on expensive technological solutions to secure the electoral process.

“Our electoral costs are skyrocketing due to the political class undermining INEC’s work. Reforms must address this trend and safeguard electoral credibility,” he stated.

The event also celebrated the contributions of Prof. Nnamdi Aduba, a seasoned constitutional law scholar and former lecturer at the University of Jos.

Representing the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Joash Amopitan praised Aduba for his dedication to academia and his contributions to Nigeria’s legal and democratic development.

In his remarks, Prof. Aduba expressed gratitude for the recognition and pledged to continue mentoring future leaders and advocating democratic principles.

Though retired, I remain committed to advancing democracy and grooming the next generation of leaders,” he said, reflecting on his career spanning over four decades.

The call for reforms and the celebration of intellectual contributions underscored the need for collective efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s democratic institutions and processes.

Comments 1

  1. NatashaGen says:

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