Electoral Bodies

Elections are not just conducted by the people on the street. The constitution has provided for how elections should be conducted. It spells out specifically that there shall be electoral bodies. In Nigeria, there is an electoral body which conducts elections and supervises all electioneering process. The body is called Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The body conducts elections into federal and state electoral constituencies. At the state level, usually for the conduct of local government elections, the State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC) is in charge.

At both the state and federal levels, there are chairpersons, supported by their various electoral commissioners. Rather than move across all state capitals during elections, the commissioners represent the interest of the chairperson there. He or she will supervise elections and declare results. This type of arrangement also applies at the state level where there are resident electoral commissioners for local government areas. The officers at the local government also reports to state commissioner just as the states report to the federal chairperson.

The INEC and SIEC are responsible for conduct of voters’ registration, keeping custody of voters register, printing of ballot papers, supervision of elections and declaring election results. Where there is an election petition, INEC and SIEC officials are also invited to give evidence and defense at the tribunals.

Assessment.

1. Who conducts election?
2. What is the full meaning of INEC & SIEC?