INEC condemns LG caretaker committees

The Independent National Electoral Commission on Friday condemned the practice of dissolving elected local government councils and the constitution of caretaker committees by state governors.The commission also demanded greater autonomy for State Independent Electoral Commissioners, as part of the decisions reached during the recent INEC/SIEC national consultative retreat that took place at the Nike Lake Resort, Enugu. In a communiqu issued to journalists in Abuja, the commission said it was necessary to ensure that elected councils were in place all the time in order to deepen democracy. The conference observed that Nigerians had always aspired for democracy in the belief that only democratically elected leaders would be responsible and responsive to their needs. The communiqu read, "Although they have different constitutional responsibilities as Election Management Bodies, there is the need for INEC and the SIECs to harmonise methodologies in discharging their mandates. "That elections are global in character and there are now widely accepted best practices in the conduct of free, fair and credible elections. "That there is a need for government at both the Federal and state levels to provide adequate and conducive environment for EMBs to creditably discharge their constitutional responsibilities in line with recognised global best practices. "That there is need to establish minimum acceptable standards in the conduct of elections and administration of EMBs, particularly regarding legal framework, financial management, election procedure, regulations governing the appointment and discipline of staff." The statement noted that it was imperative for the electoral process to be more inclusive and to cater for the needs of disadvantaged groups. Also, it stressed the need for deepening voter and civic education as a condition for improved participation in the political process at all levels. The INEC emphasised the need for all political parties to deepen internal democracy in the pursuit of the task of consolidating democracy in Nigeria during the retreat.At the end of the event, the INEC and SIECs officials in attendance recommended:"That local government councils, as the tier of government closest to the people, must be democratically elected as provided by the constitution.
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