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By Gabriel Ameh
Abuja | February 25, 2026
Nigeria’s electoral system may be heading toward stronger coordination between federal and state institutions following a high-level visit by the Forum of State Independent Electoral Commissions of Nigeria (FOSIECON) to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday in Abuja.
Leading the delegation, FOSIECON National Chairman, Mamman Nda Eri, described the visit as a strategic step toward improving the credibility, professionalism and transparency of local government elections across the country.
The delegation formally congratulated the newly appointed INEC Chairman, expressing confidence in his leadership and commitment to democratic governance.
Building Bridges Across Electoral Bodies
Eri acknowledged INEC’s record in electoral reform, particularly in technological innovation and result transparency, noting that the Commission’s advancements offer valuable lessons for state electoral commissions.
INEC’s deployment of digital tools such as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) has significantly reshaped election administration in Nigeria, enhancing public trust and accountability.
FOSIECON said it is now seeking structured collaboration that would allow State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) to benefit from INEC’s technical experience and institutional reforms.
Five-Point Reform Agenda
The forum proposed partnership in five key areas:
Capacity building and technical support for election planning, logistics, ICT systems and security coordination.
Technology sharing and innovation dialogue, particularly adapting digital tools within constitutional limits.
Policy engagement and legal reform discussions to improve standards for local government elections.
Joint voter education initiatives to boost public trust and grassroots participation.
Research and data exchange to promote evidence-based reforms.
According to Eri, while INEC and SIECs operate under distinct constitutional mandates, cooperation would strengthen electoral integrity at all levels of governance.
International Support
FOSIECON also highlighted recent institutional support received during the FCT Area Council Elections from the European Union (EU), the Supporting Democratic Governance in Nigeria (SDGN) programme, and DAI Global.
The partnerships, Eri said, enhanced professional development, observation standards and reform-oriented engagement among state electoral commissions.
A Push for Grassroots Democracy
Political analysts say closer synergy between INEC and SIECs could address long-standing concerns about the credibility of local government elections, often criticized for low transparency and weak voter confidence.
By seeking alignment on technology, training and policy standards, FOSIECON appears to be positioning state electoral bodies for greater institutional reform.
As Nigeria continues to navigate democratic consolidation, Tuesday’s engagement signals a potential turning point in strengthening elections not just at the national level but at the grassroots where governance directly impacts citizens.
