Accord Party Calls for Removal of State Electoral Commissions to Safeguard Local Polls in Lagos

Lagos State’s Accord Party has renewed its call for the National Assembly to abolish all State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) and place local elections under the management of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The demand came from Accord State Chairman, Dele Oladeji, in remarks made following Saturday’s Lagos local government elections.

Oladeji criticized the state electoral body (LASIEC), labeling it biased and insufficiently independent. He argued that local elections are marred by distrust and disenfranchisement when officiated by partisan state agencies. According to him, the irregularities witnessed — including poor logistical planning, exclusion of opposition contestants, and questionable formulae used by LASIEC — significantly undermined the polls’ legitimacy.

“Nigerians crave credible elections, but when the referee is partial, voter apathy sets in,” Oladeji said.

He dismissed assertions that assigning local election duties to INEC would overwhelm it, noting that INEC has consistently refined its processes over time. He said:

“It’s a lie they won’t be overburdened. INEC is efficient and capable. If they can handle national and state elections, they can run local polls”.

Oladeji insisted turning over grassroots polls to a federal body would restore public confidence and encourage meaningful democratic participation at the local level. He emphasized that this shift would not only improve transparency but also fortify grassroots governance systems.

He concluded by saying LASIEC must learn from INEC’s standards of fairness, accuracy, and impartiality to ensure that future elections are credible and representative.

In essence, Accord Party’s plea reflects broader concerns about electoral fairness and democratic quality at Nigeria’s grassroots level—an issue prompting growing calls for institutional restructuring.