AGF Fagbemi Calls for Abolition of State Electoral Commissions

 

Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, has urged the elimination of State Electoral Commissions to foster genuine democracy at the local government level. Speaking at a one-day event titled “Discourse on Nigeria’s Security Challenges and Good Governance at the Local Government Levels” in Abuja on Monday, Fagbemi identified these commissions as major obstacles to local government development.

 

The event, organized by the House of Representatives, aimed to address Nigeria's security challenges and governance issues at the grassroots level. Fagbemi argued that governors exploit gaps and ambiguities in the 1999 Constitution, specifically sections 7(1), 83(3), and 7(5), to undermine local governments and render them ineffective.

 

Fagbemi criticized governors for using state electoral commissions to manipulate local government elections and install leaders who align with their interests, often through sham elections. He pointed out that many governors appoint caretaker committees instead of holding proper elections, further weakening local governance.

 

He also highlighted the misuse of state/local government joint accounts, where governors control federal allocations meant for local governments, leading to financial deprivation at the grassroots level.

 

To address these issues, Fagbemi called for a comprehensive constitutional amendment to eliminate barriers hindering local government development and their ability to perform their constitutionally mandated roles. He proposed that the functions of state electoral commissions be transferred to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as state commissions are seen as extensions of the incumbent governors' influence. 

Fagbemi concluded, “To achieve this, many experts have suggested scrapping the state independent electoral commissions. Their functions and powers should be transferred to the Independent National Electoral Commission because the state independent electoral commissions are perceived as tools for incumbent governors. This is the root cause of the problems in local government administration in Nigeria.”