Isaac Samuel
Governors of Plateau and Nasarawa states, Caleb Mutfwang and Abdullahi Sule, have opposed calls for the scrapping of State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs), insisting that what the commissions need is reform, not abolition.
Speaking at the 13th National Delegates Conference of the Forum of State Independent Electoral Commissions of Nigeria (FOSIECON) held in Jos, Plateau State, the governors stressed the importance of preserving SIECs as constitutionally recognised institutions responsible for conducting local government elections.
Sule described the call for the abolition of SIECs as misplaced, arguing that the challenges they face are similar to those encountered by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), including political interference, inadequate funding, and public distrust.
“I agree one hundred per cent that abolishing SIECs is not a solution, and we will not support it. The same problems SIECs face interference, funding constraints are present at the national level,” Sule said.
Drawing from his six-year experience as governor, Sule maintained that the core problems hindering the performance of SIECs are not structural inefficiencies but deliberate political manipulation and lack of financial autonomy.
“It’s not about improving democracy. It’s about control. Control doesn’t build democracy or development. What we need are visionary leaders who serve with integrity,” he added.
The governor expressed optimism that the conference would proffer practical solutions to strengthen the electoral system and pledged the support of governors for any constructive recommendations emerging from the forum.
“I believe many governors will gladly support the solutions you recommend,” he said.
Addressing concerns around local government finances, Sule dismissed accusations that governors are withholding allocations, saying instead that most local councils are underfunded and depend on state governments for survival.
Mutfwang on his part said the conversation should begin with how leaders are recruited in the country. “
He said: We must adopt strategy that helps us identify individuals who genuinely have the people’s interest at heart.
“Bad governance does not just undermine democracy. It leads to underdevelopment and the waste of public resources.
“Autonomy is masking the real issues. What we need to focus on is efficiency. As someone who has governed at the local level, I believe improving governance at that tier is essential.”
Earlier, FOSIECON Chairman, Jossy Chibunde Eze, reiterated the forum’s commitment to electoral integrity and called for greater respect for the constitution, particularly regarding the autonomy and independence of SIECs.
“SIECs are constitutionally empowered to operate independently but often face political interference due to financial dependence,” Eze lamented.
