Local Government Elections in Nigeria Lack Fairness, Credibility—Prof. Egwu Calls for Urgent Reforms

Jos, Plateau State – A former Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Benue State, Professor Samuel Egwu, has condemned the persistent manipulation of local government elections in Nigeria, describing them as lacking credibility, fairness, and competitiveness.  

Speaking during a keynote address at the 13th Annual Conference of the Forum of State Independent Electoral Commissions (FOSIECON) in Jos, Egwu warned that the erosion of electoral integrity at the grassroots level weakens Nigeria’s democracy.  

The political science professor from the University of Jos critically assessed the state of local government elections, highlighting systemic flaws and proposing reforms to strengthen State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs). 

Egwu noted that Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999 has been marred by deeply flawed local elections, with ruling parties dominating all 36 states. He criticized the frequent use of caretaker committees instead of elected officials and widespread electoral fraud, describing the process as "electoral authoritarianism"**—where elections are manipulated to maintain political control while creating only an illusion of democracy.  

"Democracy is weakening globally, with increasing authoritarian pushback," he said. "In Nigeria, this trend is evident in how local government elections are manipulated, often lacking credibility, fairness, and competitiveness." 

Egwu argued that the problem extends beyond SIECs to Nigeria’s political culture, where elites monopolize power and state resources. To address these challenges, he proposed:  Constitutional reforms to define local council tenures, 

Operational and financial autonomy for SIECs, Independent appointment processes to reduce political interference, 

Stronger legal frameworks and oversight mechanisms and 

Decentralized training and capacity-building for SIECs through FOSIECON.  

While some have called for INEC to take over local elections, Egwu rejected the idea, stating that it would undermine Nigeria’s federal structure. Instead, he urged comprehensive reforms within the existing framework.  

Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang, who declared the conference open, emphasized the role of leadership in ensuring credible elections.  

"If leaders choose to do the right thing, institutions will work,"he said. "Elections shouldn’t just be about ticking boxes. When billions are spent on elections that don’t reflect the people’s will, it’s a waste."

He also called for improved collaboration between INEC and SIECs, stressing that voter data should be accessible to states without unnecessary restrictions.  

Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule, the event’s guest speaker, opposed calls to abolish SIECs, arguing that the same flaws exist at the federal level.  

"Abolishing SIECs isn’t the solution," he said. "We need leaders who fear God, have vision, and serve the people. Control doesn’t build democracy—good governance does." 

Earlier, FOSIECON National Chairman Barr. Jossy Eze acknowledged that SIECs are often "misunderstood, disregarded, and criticized" but reaffirmed the forum’s commitment to promoting credible local elections.  

"We appeal to state governors to support and empower SIECs to conduct free, fair, and credible elections," he said.  

Hon. Plangji Daniel Cishak, Chairman of the Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission and conference host, emphasized the need for institutional reforms.  

"This conference is critical at a time when the credibility of local elections is under scrutiny," he said. "We must reflect, debate, and implement actionable solutions."

The event, attended by electoral commissioners, policymakers, and civil society stakeholders, aims to foster peer review and innovation in grassroots election administration.