"State SIECs Only Conduct Selections": Ladi Adebutu Advocates Total INEC Control of Local Council Elections
The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, Hon. Ladi Adebutu, has called for a major legislative reform that would strip State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) of their powers to conduct local government elections, transferring that mandate entirely to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Unveiling his comprehensive seven-point development agenda in Abeokuta, the state capital, Adebutu argued that the current local government electoral system across Nigeria is fundamentally broken. He asserted that under the control of sitting state governors, council elections have degenerated into rubber-stamp "selections" that completely deny grassroots citizens their right to choose true representatives.
The SIEC Monopoly: "100% Clean Sweeps Are Unnatural"
Adebutu pointed out a glaring anomaly within Nigeria’s grassroots democracy: regardless of which political party holds power in a given state, the governor's party consistently wins every single chairmanship and councillorship seat. He noted that this total sweep is achieved by systematically starving opposition strongholds of basic voting resources on election day.
"Irrespective of the party in power, when the PDP conducts local elections at the state level, all PDP candidates emerge," Adebutu observed. "In a state where you have an APC governor, all the APC candidates emerge. For example, in our last local election in Ogun State, they didn't even bring electoral resources to the polling areas. When they don't bring resources, how can you challenge it? So it was obviously a selection, not an election."
Linking Grassroots Autonomy to National Performance
The PDP flagbearer emphasized that his administration would champion absolute financial and administrative autonomy for Ogun State’s local governments. He maintained that until local representatives face competitive elections conducted by an independent federal umpire, they will remain unaccountable to the people, which in turn weakens performance at both the state and federal levels.
"INEC must seek a way to conduct these elections and allow the people to question the running of those councils," Adebutu insisted. "It is only when citizens have the right to hold those councils accountable that you will see better performance ripple upward to the state government and the central federal government."
Beyond local government reforms, Adebutu’s unveiled blueprint focuses heavily on security, vocational youth empowerment, healthcare infrastructure, social service upgrades, and institutional accountability.
Published by Qubes Magazine
Founder & Editor-in-Chief: Okwudili Onyido
Stay informed and ahead with breaking news, entertainment, and exclusive updates from Qubes Magazine—your trusted source for digital journalism.
Contact: info@qubesmagazine.com.ng
© 2026 Qubes Magazine. All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from the publisher.
Post a Comment