The House of Representatives has proposed fresh amendments to the 1999 Constitution (as amended) aimed at strengthening the independence and operational capacity of State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs).
The proposals emerged from the consideration and harmonisation of constitution alteration bills by the House Committee on Constitution Review, chaired by the Deputy Speaker, Dr Benjamin Kalu.
With plenary sessions of the National Assembly expected to resume on January 27, 2026, following the Christmas and New Year recess, lawmakers are scheduled to vote on the proposed amendments before transmitting them to the 36 State Houses of Assembly, in line with constitutional requirements.
Among the proposed changes is an amendment to Section 200 of the Constitution, which outlines the qualifications for membership of SIECs. The House is seeking to introduce additional eligibility criteria beyond those currently provided, as part of efforts to professionalise the commissions.
The amendments also seek to address persistent concerns over executive interference in the activities of SIECs. Under the existing framework, state governors wield considerable influence over the commissions. The new proposal aims to limit this control by revising Section 204 to ensure that the commissions’ powers to make rules and regulate their internal procedures are not subject to the approval or oversight of governors.
In addition, the House is proposing an expansion of SIECs’ responsibilities through amendments to the Third Schedule of the Constitution. Presently, SIECs are empowered to organise, undertake and supervise local government elections, as well as advise the Independent National Electoral Commission on voter registration matters relevant to such elections.
Under the proposed amendments, SIECs would also be authorised to conduct voter education, monitor party primaries, congresses and political campaigns, and issue guidelines and regulations governing campaigns. The commissions would further be empowered to conduct referendums as required under the Constitution or applicable state laws.
The proposed reforms come against the backdrop of sustained criticism from civil society organisations, election observers, opposition parties and constitutional experts over the conduct of local government elections by SIECs. Critics have long argued that the commissions operate under the influence of state executives, leading to elections that consistently favour ruling parties and weaken grassroots democracy.
These concerns have been echoed in court judgments and reports by domestic and international observers, many of which have characterised local government elections in Nigeria as lacking competitiveness and credibility.
Advocates of reform have increasingly called for stronger legal safeguards to insulate SIECs from executive control, improve their professionalism and align their functions more closely with those of the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The House initiative is widely viewed as part of broader efforts to rebuild public trust in local government elections and strengthen democratic governance at the grassroots.
If endorsed by the National Assembly and approved by the required number of state legislatures, the amendments would represent one of the most far-reaching changes to the constitutional framework governing state electoral bodies since the return to civil rule in 1999.
