IMPACT OF KADUNA STATE INDEPENDENT ELECTORAL COMMISSION IN CONSOLIDATION OF DEMOCRACY IN NIGERIA

Abstract

As par the 1999 constitution, the institution saddled with the responsibility of conducting election at the Local government level is the State Independent Electoral Commission. But unfortunately, the activities of these electoral bodies have been greeted and view with disappointment and regrets. This is unrelated to the Local Council elections that they have conducted since 1999 where the political parties in power always ends up winning almost all the elective slots. This was the case in Kaduna state as well until 2018 Local government elections where both the ruling political party and the opposition political parties shared in electoral victory and electoral loss. Such was also the case during 2021 Local Government Council elections. This was and is still in sharp contrast to what is existed in other States Local Council elections across the federation. It is against this backdrop that the study sort to find out the reason behind the uniqueness of Kaduna State Independent Electoral Commission (KAD-SIECOM) as regards to local government elections in Kaduna state Nigeria, the significant of KAD-SIECOM achievement on political evolution in the state, the sustainability of KAD-SIECOM success as regards to local government election in Kaduna state and using the KAD-SIECOM as a yardstick how a credible electoral management body should be in organizing free, fair and violence free elections. In achieving these objectives, the study adopted the system theory as the theoretical framework of analysis. The study finds out among others that the major behind this uniqueness and success of Kad-Siecom in conducting local government council election was the amendment to the laws regulating the activities of the Commission and the introduction of electronic voting machine in conducting the LG council elections using secondary method.