Decentralise election management for transparency, CSOs tell INEC ahead of 2027 elections

The African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development (LSD), a civil society organisation (CSO), and partners have asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to decentralise election management to enhance efficiency, transparency, and inclusivity.

In a communique issued at the end of a two-day national conference on strengthening democracy with the theme, ‘Strengthening Nigeria’s democracy: Pathways to good governance and political integrity,’ the CSOs said this would be achieved if INEC empowers regional and local structures to oversee electoral processes, address logistical challenges, and engage communities more effectively.

According to the communique, the electoral body should also strengthen political parties through its regulatory function to ensure internal democracy is entrenched.

“INEC should undertake a review of its internal processes to incorporate ward-level collation of results and ensure strict adherence to the electoral guidelines as mandated,” the communique reads.

“Technology should be integrated into the electoral process to enhance accountability and transparency, aligning with global best practices and ensuring the credibility of the election outcomes.

“INEC should live up to its billing of strengthening political parties through its regulatory function to ensure internal democracy is entrenched in political parties.

“To further deepen the space for political participation, INEC should allow the registration of new political parties as enshrined in the constitution.

“INEC should consider the creation of a new department to enable it to effectively regulate and monitor political parties.”

The CSOs said political parties should be viewed as ongoing entities actively engaged in various issues and not just election tools.

They added that democracy should not be a discourse only at the national and sub-national governance levels but should first be practiced within the political parties.

“Political parties should not be seen as mere special-purpose-vehicle (SPV) for elections every four years, rather as viable, ongoing entities that remain actively engaged in political, social, and economic issues,” the CSOs said.

“Opposition political parties must unite to form a strong, viable coalition that ensures checks and balances, promotes accountability, and fosters healthy political discourse to protect the integrity of the democratic process.

“Political parties should adopt innovative strategies for raising funds to support their operations, ensuring financial independence and sustainability to minimise state capture and corrupt tendencies.

“Political parties should embrace competitive primaries, as this remains the most effective means to field competent and capable candidates for voters to make their choices.

“Democracy should not be a discourse only at the national and sub-national governance levels but should first be practiced within the political parties.”

Otive Igbuzor, executive director of the LSD, and Ezenwa Nwagu, the executive director of the Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa (PAACA), signed the communique.