As part of efforts to reform local government elections process across the country, Yiaga Africa paid a visit to the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC), where it held conversations on identifying ways to support the commission & the need to strengthen the laws guiding the LASIEC.
The visit is a part of our implementation of the CSO-Led Advocacy & Engagement for Model state independent electoral commissions (SIECs) project in partnership with the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) which seeks to strengthen the resilience of SIECs, standardize the conduct of local government elections and promote public participation and trust in these elections. As part of this project, Yiaga Africa is engaging with three SIECs, including LASIEC, to provide support for legislative reforms that will improve local government elections in their states. The other two SIECs are the Kaduna and Akwa Ibom SIECs.
The Yiaga Africa team, which was led by its Director of Programmes Cynthia Mbamalu, was received by the Director of Election Operation and the Acting Permanent Secretary of the commission, Mr. Gbadegesin Adefemi. The meeting was also attended by the Director of Voter Education, Mrs Eniola Adesina; Sanusi Olaniyan, Program Officer, Yiaga Africa; and Ifeanyi Mkpume, Communications Officer, Yiaga Africa.
According to Cynthia Mbamalu, the visit aimed to build on the ongoing conversation on opportunities to strengthen LASIEC to deliver credible elections at the local level. She explained that Yiaga Africa was committed to supporting the advocacy for the review of the LASIEC Law currently before the Lagos State House of Assembly and providing technical support to LASIEC ahead of the 2025 local government election in Lagos State. She emphasised Yiaga Africa’s position on strengthening the laws governing the conduct of local government elections and constitutional amendments for both local government autonomy and SIECs administrative and fiscal autonomy.
In his response, Mr. Gbadegesin Adefemi Ademola thanked Yiaga Africa for the visit and commended the organisation for its efforts in strengthening democracy in Nigeria. He mentioned that he was confident that once the LASIEC board is confirmed and inaugurated, major preparations for the elections will commence. He also highlighted seven vacant councillor seats across the local governments that have not been filled through by-elections due to the unavailability of a board. He emphasised that SIECs should not be scrapped but strengthened to enhance their capacity to deepen participatory democracy at the local level.
Mr. Ademola further identified areas of needed support, including technical support, capacity building, and the passage of a legal framework for SIECs. He also advocated for an exchange program for LASIEC staff to learn from other commissions.
Mrs Eniola Adesina, the LASIEC Director of Voter Education added that the Commission was committed to introducing progressive policies to promote the participation of women, youth and persons with disabilities in the local government election.
