The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has intensified its call for transparency and accountability within Nigeria’s electoral landscape, directing its focus on the operations of the State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) under the purview of the country’s 36 state governors.
In a bid to bolster transparency and integrity in the electoral process, SERAP has urged the state governors to provide comprehensive details regarding the SIECs, including information about their chairpersons, members, qualifications, political affiliations, and the mechanisms governing their appointment.
Furthermore, SERAP has emphasized the necessity for the governors to release detailed reports on the outcomes of local government elections conducted since 1999, along with the associated voters’ registers. This call for transparency seeks to uphold the fundamental principles of democracy and promote public trust in the electoral process.
Expressing dismay over reported interference by state governors in the operations of SIECs, SERAP underscored the detrimental impact of such actions on the fundamental right of Nigerian citizens to participate effectively in governance.
The organization stressed the constitutional obligation of state governors to establish and uphold the independence of electoral commissions, ensuring fair and impartial conduct of local government elections.
In a Freedom of Information request, SERAP has urged the state governors to prioritize the integrity, credibility, and independence of SIECs, thereby restoring faith in the electoral process and upholding the principles of democracy. This push for transparency and accountability aims to address the erosion of public trust and confidence in local government elections, ultimately fostering a more robust and credible electoral system.
The organization’s call for action within seven days, failing which legal recourse will be pursued, reflects its unwavering commitment to compelling compliance in the public interest and upholding the rights of Nigerian citizens to transparent and fair electoral processes.
Highlighting the escalating crisis undermining the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process, SERAP has emphasized the imperative of conducting elections under the auspices of truly independent and impartial electoral bodies, in line with constitutional provisions and international standards.
The group has also drawn attention to systemic challenges plaguing SIECs, including lack of capacity, independence, resources, and improper constitution, emphasizing the urgent need for reform to safeguard electoral integrity and ensure the effective functioning of these crucial institutions.
SERAP emphasized on the critical role of SIECs in maintaining independence and absolute neutrality, stressing that these commissions must not only be independent and impartial but must also be seen to be independent and impartial.
The organization’s resolute advocacy for transparency and accountability within SIECs is pivotal in fostering public trust and confidence in the electoral process, laying the groundwork for a more robust and credible democratic framework in Nigeria.
