The Forum of State Independent Electoral Commissions of Nigeria (FOSIECON) has proposed full financial autonomy of State Independent Electoral Commission (SIECs) to enable the delivery of credible elections.
To address growing concerns about negative public perception and misinformation, the Forum urged SIECs to “embark on regular public engagements with election stakeholders across the 768 local government areas”.
These recommendations were contained in a communiqué issued at the end of FOSIECON’s 13th National Delegates’ Conference (NDC), held in Jos, Plateau State from May 20-25, 2025.
In the communiqué jointly signed by Barr. Jossy Eze, National Chairman, and Associate Professor Joseph Aremo, National Secretary, on Monday, the Forum described the proposed measures as a necessary step toward 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,” the communique said.
Eze noted that these measures would help build public confidence in the capacity of SIECs to conduct credible and transparent polls.
They equally highlighted the critical role of political parties and citizens in enhancing democratic accountability.
According to the communiqué, “Political parties, as the only platforms for nominating candidates for elections, should evolve mechanisms that support the emergence of leadership with proven integrity.”
The Forum further called on the electorate to “consistently monitor and assess the performance of their elected representatives in order to promote accountability”.
Building on existing electoral reforms, 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 reform, FOSIECON, urged state houses of assembly to “adopt the relevant provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 regarding the procedure for conducting Area Council elections.” Doing so, it said, would “help ensure uniformity and certainty in the conduct of local government elections.”
According to Eze and Aremo grassroots education and voter mobilisation, will encourage SIECs to deepen partnerships with civil society organisations and development partners to support voter education and civic engagement.
“All politics is local,” the communiqué read,“and it is essential that SIECs become not just administrators of elections but champions of civic competence.”
The Forum rejected calls for the abolition of SIECs, labelling such proposals as “mischievous and anti-federalist.”
It reaffirmed that SIECs remain constitutionally protected and vital to Nigeria’s democratic development. This position was publicly supported by Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang and his Nasarawa State counterpart, Abdullahi Sule, both of whom attended the conference as special guests.
Themed ‘Local Government Elections in Nigeria: Issues, Challenges, and Opportunities’, the conference brought together participants from all 36 states, including representatives from academia, civil society, and key electoral stakeholders. Officials from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN) programme, Development Alternatives Incorporated (DAI), and the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) were also in attendance.