NGO URGES NATIONAL ASSEMBLY NOT TO SCRAP STATE ELECTORAL COMMISSIONS
A non-governmental organization, YIAGA Africa has urged the National Assembly not to accede to calls for the scrapping of State Electoral Commissions, saying doing so would undermine decentralization of governance.
Executive Director, YIAGA Africa Samson Itodo, in a statement on Friday in Abuja said the proposal is fundamentally flawed and will have far-reaching implications for Nigeria’s democracy if implemented.
Itodo said among many of the adverse effects of tampering with the state electoral commissions would be an added burden to Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC which could lead to poorly conducted local elections.
He said it will also undermine the autonomy of states guaranteed in the constitution, potentially leading to an over concentration of power in the Federal Government.
The State Independent Electoral Commissions are expected to conduct local elections in conformity with the procedures laid out in the 2022 Electoral Act.
