SIECs Seek INEC’s Support For Credible Elections In States

The Forum of State Independent National Electoral Commissions, SIECs has called for support from the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in its efforts to conduct free fair and credible elections at the State levels.

The Chairman of the Forum who is also the Chairman of the Ebonyi State Independent Electoral Commission, Chief Chibundu Eze made the appeal in Abuja when he led other executives of the forum on a courtesy visit to the Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Mahmoud Yakubu.

Chief Chibundu said that the Forum wanted INEC to assist it by reviewing the Memorandum of Understanding they once had with INEC, Reconstitution of INEC-FOSIECON Committee, Development of a Strategic work plan and support for true Independence of the forum.

He appreciated the Commission for always allowing them to monitor elections as they had garnered a lot of experiences especially in election management.

In a remark, the INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmoud Yakubu appealed to State Governors to build the capacity of staff of State Independent Electoral Commissions, SIECs and also allow them to be independent during the conduct of local government elections.

Some of the challenges the leadership of SIECs experience includes not having functional offices in the Local Government Areas in their various States, not being able to recruit their own permanent staff in some cases, the SIECs not properly constituted, no security of tenure or their critical functions taken over by government officials”.

He also appealed to the members of the FOSIECON to always be courageous in the discharge of their obligations to protect the integrity and credibility of elections.

The INEC chairman reassured them that the Commission would continue to work with them to explore all avenues under the law to improve the conduct of Local Government Elections in Nigeria.

Kayode Oyedare, Edited By Grace Namiji