The South East’s apex socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has called for the abolition of State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs), which are responsible for conducting local government elections.
This call follows the Supreme Court’s ruling on Thursday affirming local government autonomy, which Ohanaeze hailed as a significant victory for democracy.
In a statement signed by the Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, the group emphasized that the Supreme Court’s ruling effectively ends the “unchecked control and mismanagement of local government funds by state governors.”
To ensure transparency and fairness in local government elections, Ohanaeze Ndigbo has advocated for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to take over the responsibility of conducting these elections. Isiguzoro noted that granting INEC legal authority to conduct local government elections would prevent governors from manipulating SIECs to rig council elections in favor of their loyalists.
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo applauds this decision, as it puts an end to the unchecked control and mismanagement of Local Government funds by State Governors. The Federal Government must collaborate with the National Assembly to empower INEC to oversee the entire process nationwide,” the statement read.
Isiguzoro further highlighted that this move is crucial to curb the longstanding impunity and corruption perpetuated by state governors. It would ensure that local government funds are utilized for the benefit of the communities they serve, promoting transparency, accountability, and fairness in the electoral process.
The organization also called on South East governors to accept the Supreme Court’s judgment and proceed with conducting local council elections across their states. “Ohanaeze Ndigbo urges Southeast Governors to embrace the Supreme Court’s ruling and act in accordance with it. By organizing free, fair, and credible Local Government elections in the region’s 95 LGAs, the Governors can contribute to strengthening democratic governance and addressing security challenges at the grassroots level,” the statement concluded.
