KADSIECOM jettisons electronic voting machines ahead of LG election
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A coalition of civil society groups has opposed any plans to scrap State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECOMs)Â and centralize local government elections under the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
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Representatives of the civil society groups – Mr. Yusuf Ishaku Goje of Partnership for Issues-based Campaign in Nigeria (PICAN), Comrade Bako Abdul of Campaign for Democracy, Mr. Laurence Obeweh of ReSET Nigeria and Mr. Stephen Waya of Coalition of Associations for Leadership, Peace, Empowerment and Development (CALPED) –Â made their positions known at a media engagement in Kaduna today (Monday, September 2).
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The groups described as ill-advised any move to scrap the state electoral bodies, arguing that that would contradict the principles of true federalism and electoral reform thereby eroding citizens’ trust in the electoral process, especially when local government elections are due in several states.Â
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Rather than scrap the state electoral bodies now, they called for top notch reforms to strengthen them, including financial autonomy and operational independence.
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The groups also commended the Kaduna State government for appointing experienced individuals to lead the Kaduna State Independent Electoral Commission (KADSIECOM) and called on the Commission to conduct credible elections.Â
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They stressed the need for adequate funding and operational independence to enable the Commission to discharge its duties effectively.
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They also highlighted concerns about the absence of internal democracy in political parties and called on KADSIECOM to wield the big stick on parties that compromise internal party democracy.
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The groups urged all stakeholders to actively participate in the forthcoming local government electoral process and work together to strengthen democratic institutions.
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The groups also acknowledged the circumstances and justification behind the jettisoning of the use of electronic voting machines by KADSIECOM, citing the creation of 3,000 new polling units in Kaduna State, high cost of procuring new electronic voting machines due to exchange rate, the shortage of time to upgrade the software of available machines and the need to ensure no vacuum for the appointment of interim management committee, as some of the reasons.
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The groups, however, called on the Commission and stakeholders “to ensure that all necessary steps are put in place to checkmate ballot box snatching, stuffing and writing of results during the coming local government elections in the state.”Â
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“Going forward, preparation should start early and in subsequent amendments of the KAD-SIECOM law, we recommend that the State Assembly and Commission reintroduce electronic voting as an optional feature, to be jettisoned only in exceptional circumstances like we find ourselves now.Â
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“This is to facilitate a seamless transition to full technology-driven elections in the future, which is inevitable,” they said.
