By Ameh Gabriel Media360Impact – Abuja | July 29, 2025
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Forum of State Independent Electoral Commissions of Nigeria (FOSIECON) have agreed to deepen institutional collaboration aimed at improving the credibility, efficiency, and transparency of local government elections across the country.
This was the outcome of a high-level engagement between the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, and the newly inaugurated leadership of FOSIECON, led by Hon. Mamman Nda Eri, Chairman of the Kogi State Independent Electoral Commission, held at the INEC Headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday, July 29, 2025.
Welcoming the FOSIECON delegation, Prof. Yakubu emphasized that although both INEC and the State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) are constitutional bodies, local government elections remain plagued by credibility challenges and poor adherence to electoral laws.
“While we have made consistent progress at the national level, the same cannot always be said about elections at the local government level,” Prof. Yakubu noted. “The credibility of local elections is critical to democratic development, and the quality of those elections must be urgently improved.”
The INEC Chairman cited the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as a model for regular, inclusive, and competitive local elections, where no party has monopolized the outcome and elections are conducted within a fixed constitutional framework.
“In the FCT, there has never been a caretaker committee. Elections are conducted consistently, and the tenure has been harmonized to four years as required by law. It’s a model worth emulating across states,” he said.
He warned against what he described as the unlawful and impractical conduct of rushed elections, referencing a recent state commission that announced local elections with only 21 days’ notice a move that, he said, contravenes both the Electoral Act 2022 and a subsisting Supreme Court judgment.
“You cannot conduct primaries, nominate candidates, recruit ad hoc staff, carry out voter education, and ensure security within such a short window. This is not just illegal it is logistically impossible,” Yakubu emphasized, urging FOSIECON to sensitise its members on the importance of adhering to statutory timelines.
Prof. Yakubu reaffirmed INEC’s commitment to supporting SIECs, especially in areas of technical assistance, voter register access, and electoral data sharing.
“No State Independent Electoral Commission has ever been denied the voters’ register, list of political parties, or access to polling units. We remain open and ready to assist, but we must uphold credibility and legality in the process,” he said.
Earlier, FOSIECON National Chairman, Hon. Mamman Nda Eri, commended INEC for its continued support and pledged that the new executive of the forum is committed to elevating the standards of local elections.
“We are here to strengthen the partnership between SIECs and INEC. Our mission is to promote electoral integrity, transparency, and synergy, especially at the grassroots level,” Eri stated.
He outlined three key areas in which FOSIECON is seeking INEC’s support:
Technical Assistance: To deploy modern electoral tools and systems.
Capacity Building: Through joint training and workshops for SIEC officials.
Knowledge Sharing: Via best practices, peer exchanges, and research collaborations.
“With INEC’s guidance, we believe the State Electoral Commissions can deliver elections that meet national and international standards,” Eri added.
FOSIECON also reaffirmed its commitment to aligning with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022, particularly Sections 98–113, which apply to local elections. The forum acknowledged the need to model future elections after the FCT framework and develop institutional discipline in planning and execution.
The FOSIECON delegation included Elder Aniedi A. Ikoiwak, Hon. Barr. Genevieve Osakwe, Hon. Ahmed Makama, Hon. Lawal Alhassan Faskari, and Hon. Justice Cornelius Akintayo (Rtd), all of whom echoed the need for stronger collaboration with INEC to protect democracy at the grassroots.
The meeting concluded with a mutual understanding to initiate more frequent engagements, shared trainings, and stronger compliance with the legal framework guiding elections in Nigeria.
“We are ready to work hand-in-hand with FOSIECON. But elections must not only be held—they must be credible,” Prof. Yakubu declared
