Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has said his colleagues will not support the scrapping of the State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs), calling for reforms that would enable the state electoral bodies efficiently discharge their responsibilities.
Governor Sule made this known while speaking at the 13th national delegates conference of the Forum of Independent Electoral Commissions, held on Wednesday in Jos, Plateau state.
According to the Governor, calls for the scrapping of the SIECS is misplaced especially that even the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), is confronted with similar challenges affecting the smooth running of the SIECS.
“I agree with you one hundred per cent that abolishing SIECS is not a solution, and we are not going to support that. Because the same problems we face are the same problems that we face at the national level.
“Even if you transfer LG elections to INEC, you will still face the same challenges. At the end of the day, you are not bringing people from heaven, you are bringing the same Nigerians who are going to conduct these elections in the state and with a state governor in the seat,” he stated.
The Governor particularly identified interference and insufficient funding as major challenges confronting the SIECs.
“Yes, agreed, SIECs are probably misunderstood, disregarded, criticised and taunted. They are also not trusted, and in addition to that, they are to a certain extent hated by some people. These are the realities on the ground. But then, we look back and say, Is it their fault?
“The answer is, in most cases, from my experience, I have been a Governor now for six years, I know the challenges that they face have been interference, interference and underfunding. These three major challenges that the SIECs are facing can not make them do any better. Until we can handle these issues as they are, we will continue to deceive ourselves,” he said.
He equally identified the craving for control among politicians as another contributing factor why the SIECs are unable to discharge their responsibilities as expected.
“The issue goes back, as you rightly mentioned, to control. It’s people who want this control that are calling for the scrapping of the SIECS. Control does not build our democracy. Control does not bring about development. What brings about development is the people who are willing to serve, the leaders who are willing to serve the people with the fear of God, with a vision, with responsibilities they know they have taken on them and the people. Once we take that, then truly speaking, Nigerians will care less if we have true elections at the local government or not,” he added.
He explained that there is general discontentment with the outcome of elections, both at the federal and local levels, because of the inordinate desire for control.
Governor Sule however expressed optimism that participants at the national delegates conference would evolve lasting solutions to the challenges facing the SIECs.
“I hope at the end of the day, you will come up with solutions. So many governors would be more than happy with the solutions that you will bring out. We will support you once you have the right solution,” he said.
The Governor dismissed claims that governors are sitting on funds belonging to local government areas, stressing that contrary to such assertions, the state governors compliment local government funding.
“When people talk about governors wanting to sit on local government funds, sometimes some of us laugh. Because the local government doesn’t even have sufficient money for somebody to sit on. Constantly, they are looking for additional funds from the state,” he said.
He used the opportunity of the event to commend his Plateau State counterpart, Caleb Mutfwan, for his inroads in infrastructural development, as well as his concerted efforts to bring lasting peace to the state.
Earlier, Jossy Chibunde Eze, the National Chairman of Forum of State Independent Electoral Commissions of Nigeria (FOSIECON) called for greater independence, financial autonomy, and constitutional respect for State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs).
Eze also highlighted that despite their autonomy being guaranteed by law, SIECs often struggle with inadequate funding, which forces them to rely on state executives who may attempt to influence their operations.
“SIECs are constitutionally empowered to operate independently, yet are often pressured to serve the interests of those who appoint them,” he stated.
