*Demands amendment of Section 7 of Federal Republic of Nigeria Constitution
*Says State electoral commission’s should be abolished
By; MOHAMMED KAWU, Bauchi
Former Chairman of Inter-Party Advisory Council in Nigeria (IPAC), High Chief Peter Ameh has observed that lack of transparent local government elections has several negative effects on the nation’s nascent democracy, and is inimical to the growth and survival of mult-party democracy in the country.
He explained that the failure of the system has also led to the collapse of local economy in Nigeria, suggesting, “let governors impose and coronate instead of elections, and adversely affects the competitive growth and development of the local communities.”
The ex-IPAC chairman in a statement made available to New Nigerian Newspapers yesterday, said that to mitigate these effects, it is essential to promote transparent, free, and fair elections in local government, ensuring the integrity and accountability of the electoral process.
“We need a major electoral reform to help ensure that the local government is given financial and Administrative autonomy. These are the main reasons why I support the decision of Attorney General and minister of Justice for the need to free the local Government system from the armpit of state governors”. He stressed.
Mr. Peter Ameh therefore, recommended that Section 7 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) relating to the place of Local Governments as the third tier of government should be amended to specifically guarantee the existence, establishment, structure, composition, finance, functions and tenure of Local Governments under the Constitution.
In addition, he further proposed, Section 153, 197 and The third Schedule to the Constitution should be amended to provide for the following re-designation and re-ordering of States Independent Electoral Commission:
“At the State level, the State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) should be abolished and its structures incorporated within the structure of INEC to form a single election management body for the country.
“The State level Secretariat of INEC should therefore consist of 37 Directors of Elections, one for each State and the FCT, appointed by INEC, trained and posted to States other than their States of origin. These Directors should be career officers, and non-partisan persons of unquestionable character and proven integrity.
“At the Local Government level, full time 774 Local Government Electoral Officers should be appointed by INEC after public advertisement inviting applications and posted outside their own Local Government Areas. At least one-third of these Local Electoral Officers should be women.
“At the Ward level, full time 8814 career Assistant Electoral Officers should be appointed by INEC after public advertisement inviting applications and posted outside their wards but within the Local Government Area. At least one-third of these Local Government Electoral Officers should be women”. He suggested.
According to the ex-IPAC boss, the functions and roles played by the SIECs should be made independent of the Federal level, while INEC Resident Electoral Commissioners of each state be more independent to avoid interference or usurpation of powers.
Ameh further stated that the failure of the local government system similarly undermines democracy, promotes political corruption and lack of accountability, as well as disenfranchisement of marginalized groups.
He said that the failure also promotes political instability, erodes public trust, leads to inefficient resource allocation, stagnate local development, builds loss of faith in institutions, and undermines rule of law, as non-transparent elections can contribute to a culture of impunity, where those in power feel above the law.
