The Nigerian Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has called for the abolition of State Electoral Commissions, citing them as the primary impediment to the development of local governments.
Fagbemi made this statement during a one-day discourse on “Nigeria’s Security Challenges and Good Governance at the Local Government Levels” held in Abuja on Monday, May 27, 2024. The event was organized by the House of Representatives and focused on addressing governance and security issues at the local level.
Fagbemi highlighted how state governors have exploited weaknesses in the 1999 Constitution to undermine local governments, making them ineffective. He pointed out that one of the most common forms of abuse is the use of state electoral commissions to conduct sham elections, as well as governors’ preference for appointing caretaker leaders instead of elected officials in local governments.
“Their functions and powers should be transferred to the Independent National Electoral Commission because the state independent electoral commissions remain an appendage to every incumbent governor. This is perceived as the root cause of the problem of local government administration in Nigeria,” Fagbemi stated.
Fagbemi’s call for reform aims to foster true democratic practices within local governments, ensuring they can operate effectively and independently from the influence of state governors.
