Nigeria’s Attorney General, Lateef Fagbemi, argues that State Electoral Commissions hinder local government development and should be abolished. Speaking at the ‘Discourse on National Security Challenges and Good Governance at the Local Government Levels’ in Abuja on Monday, Fagbemi asserted that governors exploit constitutional gaps, particularly in Sections 7(1), 83(3), and 7(5) of the 1999 Constitution, to undermine local governments.
He accused governors of using these weaknesses to impose their will on local governments, often appointing caretaker leadership and conducting sham elections through state electoral commissions. This, Fagbemi noted, deprives grassroots communities of effective governance and allows for fiscal mismanagement, as governors control federal allocations to local governments.
Fagbemi called for abolishing State Electoral Commissions and transferring their powers to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to strengthen local democracy. He also urged for a constitutional amendment to remove barriers hindering local government development.
“These state electoral commissions are merely extensions of incumbent governors,” Fagbemi stated, emphasising the need for their removal to solve local government administration issues in Nigeria.
Fagbemi’s comments follow his Supreme Court suit against governors, seeking to prevent the remittance of local government funds to states and replace elected local government officials with caretaker committees.