Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged 36 state governors to disclose details of chairmen and members of State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) in their states, including their qualifications and political affiliations, if any, and the processes of their appointment.
SERAP also urged state governors to disclose the details of the results of local council elections conducted in their states since 1999, and the voter register for such elections.
In addition, the body asked governors to clarify how their states had complied with the requirements of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended) and international standards on the conduct of periodic local council elections in their states, including the details of any law regulating such elections.
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Mahmood Yakubu, had, last week, alleged that the conduct of local council elections in virtually all the states had become mere coronation of candidates of the ruling parties.
In a Freedom of Information request at the weekend, signed by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said state governors had the constitutional responsibility to establish and allow independent electoral commissions to conduct local council elections fairly and impartially.
SERAP lamented that the reported interference by state governors in the operations of SIECs and apparent manipulation of local government elections were clearly incompatible with Nigerians’ right to effectively participate in their own government.
According to the body, reported governors’ interference in the operations of SIECs and manipulation of local council elections have seriously undermined the sanctity and integrity of the electoral process and public trust and confidence in the process, as well as the integrity of the country’s democracy.
In the letter, SERAP noted: “Local government elections in several states are susceptible to manipulation by governors. The appointment process of chairmen and members of SIECs and the operations of these commissions are shrouded in secrecy.
“State governors have also reportedly continued to undermine the enjoyment of people’s rights to participate in their own government.”
The organisation added that the crisis confronting elections and the lack of public trust and confidence in local council elections could be addressed only if the elections were conducted by independent and impartial state electoral commissions and in accordance with the Nigerian Constitution and international standards.
The major problem facing the country’s democracy, SERAP said, was the the lack of respect for Nigerians’ right to participation and the concomitant lack of trust in election results.
“If citizens do not believe in the election process, then the entire system of democratic government becomes a questionable enterprise,” the body stated.
