NAN-H-19
SIECs
By Bolaji Buhari
Lagos, Aug. 1, 2017 (NAN) The Lagos State chapter of Accord Party on Tuesday threw its weight behind the vote by the Senate for the scrapping of State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) in the constitution amendment process.
The state chairman of the party, Chief Gbenga Kool, spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
Kool said a situation where a party in government won all the seats in a local government election meant there was something wrong with the current system.
He argued that allowing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct all elections would promote credible polls, especially at the grassroots.
“We believe that the grassroots is the foundation of any democracy and that if democracy must be strengthened, it should start from there.
“However, a system where states conduct local government elections through their own electoral commissions is not good for grassroots democracy.
“What we see is that the party controlling the government sweeps all seats in local government elections and you ask yourself, how is that always possible?
“So, allowing INEC to conduct all elections will bring credibility to local government elections and deepen democracy at the grassroots,’’ he said.
Kool commended the Senate for its vote for the scrapping of state electoral commissions in the constitution amendment process.
He said that the vote of the House of Representatives against the scrapping of the SIECs would not help democracy at the grassroots.
Kool said the conduct of the July 22 council poll in Lagos State would have been better if conducted by INEC.
Also speaking, the state chairman of Alliance for Democracy, Mr Kola Ajayi said scrapping state electoral commissions would bring sanity to conduct of elections at the grassroots.
“I think scrapping of state electoral commissions would give equal opportunities to all political parties in grassroots elections and deepen democracy,’’ he said.
The state secretary of the Labour Party, Mr Bolaji Oshinowo said state electoral commissions were always sympathetic to the ruling party in the conduct of local government elections.
He commended the Senate voting for the scrapping of state electoral commissions, saying the step would strengthen democracy.
But the state chairman of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, Mallam Shakirudeen Olofin, said scrapping of state electoral commissions would not improve the credibility of elections at the grassroots.
“The problem to credible elections at the grassroots is not state electoral commissions; there are issues the National Assembly is not addressing.
“The INEC that the Senate is recommending, how independent is it? I think we should face the problems squarely rather than chase things that won’t make any difference,’’ he said.
NAN reports that while the senate voted in favour of the scrapping the SIECs, the House of Representatives voted against their scrapping.(NAN)
BHB/TO/SOA
Edited by Tola Okinbaloye/Oluwole Sogunle