State Independent Electoral Commissions and local government elections in Nigeria

Johnson O Olaniyi

doi:10.4102/apsdpr.v5i1.133

Abstract

Many state governments have not been allowing their State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) to conduct elections as at when due but rather settle for ‘caretaker committees’. Where elections have been conducted, the party in control of a state apparatus has been known to have cleared the polls. The general objective of this study is to assess the impact of electoral contest at the local government level on the political development of Nigeria. Specific objectives include (1) assessing the role of the political executives of a state in the determination of representation at the local government level in Nigeria; and (2) assessing the activities of SIECs in the management of local government polls. This study adopts comparative cum case study approach to analysing local government polls in Nigeria. This is discussed on a geopolitical basis. Some of the findings of the study include: (1) local government election in Nigeria is not given premium position by many state governments in the political landscape of their state because of the fear of playing into the hands of their political rivals; and (2) SIECs are only independent in name and not in practice. The study recommends, among others, that (1) the country should adopt the arrangement in the aborted Third Republic where the country’s EMB was empowered to conduct all elections at all levels of government and (2) local government elections in Nigeria should key into the electoral process of the country in all ramifications.

Highlights

Nigeria used to be a unitary state
This study has examined the role of State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) in the organisation and conduct of local government elections in Nigeria
The study later progresses to the stage of discussing the main thrust of the work, that is, the examination of the role of SIEC in conducting local government elections in Nigeria

Summary

Introduction

Nigeria used to be a unitary state. This was from January 1900 to 1954 when the country was officially colonised and the time it changed to federal system of government, respectively. Nigeria first experienced a decentralised form of administration in 1939 during the administration of Sir Bernard Bourdillon who was the Colonial Governor-General of the country there had been native councils and native courts in the northern part of the country before that time. This was done to oversee the administration of ‘indirect rule system’ (a system of rule that made use of traditional rulers who served as the intermediaries between their people and the colonial government) in that part of the country. According to Nicolson (1979), this: Step had the advantage of administrative convenience, as well as being a recognition of the social differences between the peoples who formed the majority in the West, the Yoruba, and those who formed the majority in the East, the Ibo. (p. 246)

Objectives

Findings

Conclusion