In a bid to support Nigeria’s democratic development, the European Union (EU), through its Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN) programme, has launched the Coalition for Local Election Administration Reform (CLEAR) to strengthen the management of local elections.
CLEAR, an EU-funded initiative, seeks to empower State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) through legal and institutional reforms, rebuild trust, foster collaboration, and reignite public interest in grassroots democracy. The programme, implemented by Development Alternatives Incorporated (DAI), promotes coordinated action through shared frameworks while supporting ongoing reforms to local electoral systems.
Laolu Olawumi, EU Programme Manager on Democracy, Rule of Law, and Gender, underscored CLEAR’s relevance to citizens’ everyday lives and democratic rights. “The way I like to frame the conversation around local government reform and our work with SIECs is to connect it to everyday life and the rights citizens should enjoy. Those rights are often impeded by the lack of transparency in how local representatives are selected,” she said.
She added, “That is why it was a no-brainer for us to prioritise this and to encourage all the partners that have been doing excellent work, whether it is IFES, Kimpact, CJID, CDD, or IRI, to come together and ask what more we can do to advance this conversation.”
“I hope this coalition will help crystallise the ideas on how to hold government accountable and demand reforms that are not just efficient but also sustainable.”
Professor Okechukwu Ibeanu, Election Administration Expert for DAI, explained that CLEAR builds on DAI’s recent report, The State of the State Independent Electoral Commissions in Nigeria, which identified partisan appointments, inadequate funding, and lack of autonomy as major challenges facing SIECs. The report proposed six key solutions: establishing a reform coalition, legal and technical reform, institutional development of SIECs and FOSIECON, enhancing civil society election observation, INEC-SIEC collaboration, and improved knowledge production.
Speaking further, he said that CLEAR would adapt reform strategies previously used for INEC to the unique context of SIECs. He described the recent Supreme Court ruling on local government autonomy as a significant opportunity for reform.
“This opening coincides with the growing interest of civil society organisations and development partners in local elections and SIECs. The alignment of these three forces is likely to generate far-reaching legal and institutional changes,” he noted.
Adding to the conversation, Professor Kunle Ajayi, representing the INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, advised SIECs to adopt INEC’s model of robust civil society engagement. “At INEC, we work with over 400 CSOs. These partners monitor every facet of our operations, provide invaluable feedback, and foster accountability. This model has enhanced our credibility and can serve as a blueprint for SIECs,” he said.
He also emphasised collaboration among CSOs, the media, and political parties under the Inter-Party Advisory Council as essential for advancing policy reform and deepening democratic values.
Joe Aba, Country Director of International IDEA, praised the coalition model. “I really like the idea of a coalition between FOSIECON and INEC. That’s how we solved a lot of problems in the UK. We introduced a concept called shared priorities, where central and local governments agreed on key areas, committed resources, and monitored implementation. It worked. While we wait for constitutional amendments, which can take a long time, this is something that can actually make a difference now.”
During discussions, participants identified executive overreach and the lack of financial autonomy as major obstacles to SIEC effectiveness. There was a strong emphasis on fostering collaboration between INEC and SIECs to bridge capacity gaps and enhance the credibility of local elections.
Elder Aniedi Ikoiwak, Chairman of the Akwa Ibom State Independent Electoral Commission (AKISIEC), shared a practical example of SIEC-INEC collaboration. He described how he had reported under- and overpopulated polling units to INEC for reorganisation, illustrating the benefits of synergy between both institutions.
Meanwhile, Dr. Philip Duwe, Chairman of the Taraba State Independent Electoral Commission, pointed out that local elections are often treated as must-win contests by state governors, placing undue pressure on SIECs to deliver victories for ruling parties.
Despite these challenges, participants opposed calls to transfer the responsibility for local elections to INEC. They affirmed that SIECs should remain in charge but must be equipped with stronger autonomy and improved institutional frameworks.
Gbemisola Adebowole, representing Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI), called for deeper civil society engagement at the grassroots level. “It is important for civil society organisations to localise their work. At KDI, we understand the value of shining a light on the local electoral process,” she said.
She added, “It is also important to collaborate with media partners at the local level. If no one is reporting on these issues, the public remains unaware, and constituents cannot access the information they need to make informed choices.”
CLEAR emerges as a timely convergence of policy momentum, civil society energy, and legal opportunity. It is well positioned to drive meaningful reform in Nigeria’s local election administration landscape.
