Adebayo Adenrele
The Chairman of Ekiti State Independent Electoral Commission (EKSIEC), Justice Cornelius Akintayo (rtd) has refuted the claim that State Governors influence the decision of the States’ electoral bodies nationwide, stressing that Governor Biodun Oyebanji has never interfered in the affairs of EKSIEC since he got to power.
The Chairman, who stressed that he’s not under pressure to favour any political party, warned against scrapping of the commission nationwide, saying such action by the federal government will rather undermine the principles of federalism.
Justice Akintayo noted that elections are on the concurrent list and concentrating more power at the centre will add more bottlenecks to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), adding that states should be allowed to manage their own processes.
He added that as the State prepares for Local Government election in December, 2026, he revealed that Governor Oyebanji only called on the Commission to discharge their duty with fairness and honesty, without any form of duress.
His words, “On the review of the Electoral Act, we have contributed at different levels. INEC should not take over the functions of State Independent Electoral Commissions. Nigeria is a federation and concentrating more power at the centre undermines the principles of federalism.
“Elections are on the concurrent list and states should be allowed to manage their own processes.
“On electoral reforms and electronic transmission of results, it may be practicable with adequate funding and improved technology. However, machines can fail and contingency measures must always exist.
“Regarding my current office as Chairman of the State Independent Electoral Commission, it is not true that we are under the control of the governor. There has never been a day the governor dictated to me who must win an election.
“If political parties choose not to participate in elections, the commission cannot force them. Our duty is not to campaign for parties but to conduct elections”.
