Bill On Local Gov’t Election Tops NASS Agenda

As the National Assembly resumes plenary next week, a landmark bill to overhaul the local government election process is taking centre stage.

Also, the constitutional amendment, the 2025 budget, and the amendment to the judicial laws to empower the supreme judgement of Local Government autonomy will top the discussions.

The proposed legislation to create a body for the local government election process, spearheaded by Senator Mohammed Sani Musa (Niger East), will be at the forefront of the issues even as states take steps toward the conduct of the LG polls.

The legislation seeks to establish the National Independent Local Government Electoral Commission (NILGEC).

This body would replace the State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) in conducting elections for local government chairmen and councillors.

The bill garnered significant attention and is expected to be fast-tracked through legislative procedures.

It proposes shifting control of local government elections from SIECs to NILGEC, thereby creating a new avenue for ensuring transparency and fairness in local government polls, a tier often criticised for its lack of accountability.

Despite the bill’s momentum, there are constitutional challenges.

Sources within the National Assembly acknowledge that any alterations to Section 197(1) of the constitution—establishing SIECs in each state—would require approval from the State Houses of Assembly.

“Many state legislatures are unlikely to support such a change, which could lead to a constitutional impasse,” he said.

Legal experts also anticipate that the bill, if passed, may face court challenges.

A Civil Society Organisation (CSO), Yiaga Africa, said it supports reforms to improve local government elections but has raised concerns about the proposed abolition of SIECs.

In a statement, Samson Itodo, Executive Director of Yiaga Africa, argued that reforms should focus on addressing systemic issues within SIECs rather than dismantling the existing electoral commissions.

“Abolishing SIECs is not a solution to flawed local government elections,” said Itodo. “Instead, strengthening them through legal and institutional reforms is crucial to preserving the integrity of local democracy.”

Yiaga Africa has called for constitutional amendments to explicitly guarantee the operational, administrative, and financial independence of SIECs.

The organisation also recommends harmonising state electoral laws with the 2022 Electoral Act and improving the capacity of SIECs to enhance the quality of election administration.