The Chairman of Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC), Hashim Abioye, has issued a stern warning against the proposed transfer of local government election oversight from state electoral commissions to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Abioye cautioned that such a move could lead to widespread regret among Nigerians, arguing that it would burden an already overstretched federal body and undermine local governance.
Speaking in Osogbo, the state capital, during a programme organised by the League of Veteran Journalists, Abioye voiced his concerns about the implications of centralising local government elections. “If you entrust INEC or any other national agency with the responsibility of conducting local government elections, we will all come to regret it,” he asserted. “The federal bodies are already overburdened, with the exclusive legislative list leaving states with little or nothing to manage.”
Abioye further criticised those advocating for the abolition of state electoral commissions, suggesting that they are the same individuals who previously undermined the system. He emphasised the importance of maintaining state control over local government elections, which are closest to the people at the grassroots level.
Despite the Supreme Court granting financial autonomy to local governments, Abioye highlighted that their administration remains intricately linked to state governments. He noted that while funds for local governments should be directly administered by elected officials, the state House of Assembly still plays a critical role in the appropriation of these funds.
“The Supreme Court ruling ensures that funds allocated to local governments from the federation account are no longer intercepted by the state, but this does not equate to unchecked financial autonomy,” Abioye explained. “The constitution ties local governments to the state, particularly through the budgetary process overseen by the state House of Assembly.”
Abioye also underscored the interconnectedness of local government responsibilities with state functions, such as the payment of salaries for primary school teachers and chieftaincy affairs, which are managed by state executive bodies. He warned that financial autonomy does not imply the freedom to spend without oversight, stressing that local governments remain accountable to state mechanisms.
Discussing the upcoming local government elections in Osun State, Abioye assured that preparations were well underway, with critical stakeholders being actively involved in the process. He promised that the commission would conduct elections that would be fair and acceptable to all participating parties.
