Governors Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State and Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State have voiced strong opposition to the proposed dissolution of State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) as part of ongoing constitutional amendments at the National Assembly.
The governors made their positions known on Wednesday at the 13th Annual Conference of the Forum of State Independent Electoral Commissions (FOSIECON), held at Crispan Hotel, Jos, Plateau State.
Governor Mutfwang firmly rejected the notion that scrapping SIECs is a solution to electoral challenges.
He called instead for meaningful reforms, arguing that the commissions should be strengthened, not discarded.
“I completely disagree with the idea that state electoral commissions should be scrapped,”;; he said.
“The solution isn’t to throw the whole system away but to fix what’s broken. Collaboration between INEC and the SIECs must also improve. Voter data belongs to Nigerians, not just INEC—states should have access to it without undue restrictions.”;;
He also advocated for flexibility in managing local governments, saying: “Section 7 of our Constitution mandates democratic elections at the local government level. That’s good. But states should have the liberty to run their local governments in ways that suit them best. Sometimes, the push for autonomy distracts us from the real issue: efficiency.”;;
Echoing similar sentiments, Governor Sule argued that scrapping SIECs would not solve electoral problems but merely shift them.
“I strongly disagree with the move to abolish SIECs,”;; he said. “The issues we see at the state level also exist at the federal level. Eliminating SIECs won’t solve anything—it just shifts the problem. What we need is reform, strong systems, and leaders with integrity.”;;
Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) also weighed in on the issue. Reverend Christopher Damcher, Chairman of the Plateau State Civil Society Organizations Forum, commended the performance of the Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission (PLASIEC), describing its last local government election as free, fair, and credible.
In a keynote address titled “Local Government Elections in Nigeria: Issues, Challenges and Opportunities,”;; Professor Samuel Egwu criticized the tendency to demonize state commissions while glorifying INEC, arguing that both levels should be judged by the same standards.
Earlier, Barrister Jossy Eze, National Chairman of FOSIECON, welcomed delegates and stakeholders, lamenting that SIECs remain among the most misunderstood and criticized government institutions. He expressed hope that the conference would spark robust dialogue and practical solutions.
The conference brought together electoral stakeholders, civil society groups, and political leaders to reflect on the future of grassroots democracy in Nigeria amid growing calls for electoral reform.
