Expert seeks financial autonomy for state electoral bodies

A retired Permanent Commissioner with the Niger State Independent Electoral Commission, Ibrahim Wawa, has advocated for financial autonomy for state electoral bodies (SECs) to enable them remain impartial and conduct their activities without hindrance.

Wawa told The Guardian at the launch of his book  titled, “My Stewardship at Niger State Independent Electoral Commission (2017-2023), Electoral Process and Result of 2019-2022 Local Council Elections in Niger State,” in Minna at the weekend.

“I was inspired to write the book having served with the state electoral commission. I feel it is necessary for me to write a book and bring to the fore these issues for people to understand the dynamic, the structures, the challenges, and the achievements of Niger State Independent Electoral Commission over the years,” he said.

“We have been trying to ensure that there is transparency, accountability and fairness in the conduct of local council elections,” Wawa said, adding that in one of the council polls conducted by the commission without interference from the state government, a councillorship candidate of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) defeated his ruling All Progressives Congress (AP) counterpart in former governor, Abubakar Sani Bello’s ward, in  Kontagora Local Council of the state.

He added that in the 2019 council elections conducted by the commission, an SDP chairmanship candidate in Katcha Local Council, defeated his APC counterpart, while PDP candidates defeated their APC opponents in Gbako, Kontagora, and Mariga council areas.

All these, he said indicated that there was a slight improvement from what obtains in other places where the party in power wins elections 100 per cent.