The Chairman of The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, is advocating total independence and autonomy of State Independent Electoral Commissions in the country to enable them discharge their constitutional responsibilities of conducting credible elections to the people.
He made the demand at a conference organised to share experience on best practices in election management with the theme; ‘Assuring Credible and Sustainable Electoral Process in Nigeria’ held in Kaduna on Wednesday.
Professor Jega said that a situation whereby governors appoint members of their state electoral commissions, determine their budgets as well as continuously interfere in their activities would not give the electoral bodies the freedom to conduct free and fair elections.
A representative of the United Nation Development Programme (UNDP), Professor Bolade Ayinla, stressed that Nigerians had the right to choose their leaders through elected representatives, urging the INEC and other election management bodies to guarantee the citizens right to full participation in the electoral process.
Over the years, the appointment of chairmen and members of State Electoral Commissions had been the prerogative of state governors who also dictate to the commissions, a practice Professor Jega insisted must stop if Nigeria must get its elections right.
Resident Electoral Commissioners, National Electoral officers and Chairmen of State Independent Electoral Commissions were present at the workshop to share ideas, especially on the impending review of polling units for the 2015 elections.
The INEC chairman said for elections to be free and fair, the commission must share information and collaborate with State Electoral Commissions, adding that “there cannot be good governance in the country if the foundation of the electoral process is not right”. He also announced that the commission had commenced a programme of constituency delineation ahead of 2015 elections.
The Chairman of the Lagos State Electoral Commission (LASIEC) Justice Afolabi Adeyinka, said the Nigerian Constitution must be amended to ensure independence and autonomy of State Electoral Commissions.
Participants at the conference emphasised that with total autonomy and proper funding, electoral bodies could conduct a better election at both the state and national levels.
For two days, they will have the full opportunity to analyse and discuss ways of improving the electoral management processes in order to get future elections in the country right.