The Senator representing Cross River North Senatorial District, Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe has observed that the legal framework empowering State Independent Electoral Commissions, SIECs, in Nigeria is fundamentally flawed and should be correctly swiftly to avert imminent dictatorship.
In a statement issued in Calabar at the end of the Local Government election in Cross River State on 2nd November, 2024, where APC won all the positions, Jarigbe called on the National Assembly to enact a law that genuinely strengthens SIECs and supports democracy at the local level.
He observed that across the country, there is a consistent trend where State Governments control electoral outcomes, leaving little room for opposition parties to participate meaningfully or to garner lawful votes in Local Government elections.
He said if left unchanged, Nigeria’s democracy stands on the edge of a precipice, with the risk of a slide into governance dictated by personal interests rather than by the will of the people.
He cautioned that it is very dangerous to leave the conduct of Local Government elections in the absolute control of those who fund the process.
He insisted that “for true autonomy to be realized, election conduct must be free from the undue influence of State Governments.
“As a country, we face a clear choice between descending into dictatorship or preserving our democracy.
“It is imperative that we pass the necessary laws to shield our democratic processes, or we risk further erosion of our values and principles.”
Referring to the just concluded local council election in Cross River and few other states, Jarigbe said, “What we have witnessed is nothing short of an affront to the spirit of democracy.
“Our political landscape has become farcical, and the international community is watching our failures with disappointment.”
LG elections: NASS should avert imminent dictatorship in Nigeria – Jarigbe