The South East’s leading socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has demanded for the dismantling of State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs), seeking to transfer control of local government elections to the local governments.
The Supreme Court’s ruling on local government autonomy on Thursday was celebrated by Ohanaeze Ndigbo as a significant victory for democracy and a major step forward for decentralization.
In a statement signed by the Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, the group stated that the ruling has put an end to “unchecked control and mismanagement of local government funds by state governors”.
Ohananeze said to ensure transparency, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should be charged with conducting local government elections.
Isiguzoro said giving INEC legal backing to conduct local government elections would end governors manipulating SIECs to rig council elections for their loyalists.
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo applauds this decision, as it puts an end to the unchecked control and mismanagement of Local Government funds by State Governors.
“The Federal Government must collaborate with the National Assembly to empower INEC to oversee the entire process nationwide.
“This will ensure transparency, accountability, and fairness in the electoral process, preventing Governors from manipulating State Independent Electoral Commissions to place their loyalists in positions of power for their personal gain,” the statement read.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo appealed to the South East governors to heed the Supreme Court’s ruling and proceed with organizing local council elections in their states, in line with the newly established independence of local governments.
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo urges Southeast Governors to embrace the Supreme Court’s ruling and act in accordance with it.
“By organizing free, fair, and credible Local Government elections in the region’s 95 LGAs, the Governors can contribute to strengthening democratic governance and addressing security challenges at the grassroots level.“
