Jos, Plateau State – May 23, 2025 – The Forum of State Independent Electoral Commissions of Nigeria (FOSIECON) concluded its 13th National Delegates’ Conference today in Jos, Plateau State, with a strong call for greater administrative and financial autonomy for State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) as a critical pathway to deepening democracy at the grassroots level.
The three-day conference, held from May 20–23, 2025, brought together delegates comprising Chairmen, Members, and Secretaries of SIECs from 27 states across the federation. Themed “Local Government Elections in Nigeria: Issues, Challenges and Opportunities,” the event was officially declared open by the Executive Governor of Plateau State, His Excellency Hon. (Barr.) Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang.
In his keynote address, Prof. Samuel Egwu, Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of INEC in Benue State, underscored the need for systemic reforms to bolster the capacity of SIECs in conducting credible local elections. Other notable paper presentations included contributions from Assoc. Prof. Mohammed B. Babanumma, Prof. Alphonsus Okoh Alubo SAN, Barr. Cynthia Mbamalu of YIAGA Africa, and Mr. Martins Oloja of The Guardian Newspaper, covering diverse aspects of electoral independence, legal frameworks, civic competence, and grassroots democracy.
The conference highlighted several persistent challenges affecting SIEC operations, including legal ambiguities, inadequate funding, and limited public confidence. In response, FOSIECON proposed a set of far-reaching recommendations aimed at reforming local government elections, including:
• Granting full administrative and financial autonomy to SIECs;
• Institutionalizing regular stakeholder engagement across Nigeria’s 768 local government areas;
• Promoting internal democracy and accountability within political parties;
• Extending INEC-strengthened legal reforms to SIECs;
• Adopting provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 to ensure uniformity in local election procedures;
• Enhancing civic education in partnership with civil society organizations and development partners.
Delivering goodwill messages at the conference were representatives of key stakeholders such as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Development Alternatives Incorporated (DAI), United States Institute of Peace (USIP), and the Inter-party Advisory Council (IPAC). The Executive Governor of Nasarawa State, Engr. Abdullahi A. Sule, was also represented.
In its concluding communiqué, FOSIECON reaffirmed the legitimacy and necessity of SIECs within Nigeria’s federal structure, rejecting any suggestion of their abolition. The Forum emphasized that SIECs remain a vital instrument for leadership recruitment and democratic consolidation at the grassroots level.
