… Says Participation Is Voluntary, Affirms Constitutional Compliance
By:Babagana Bukar Wakil, Maiduguri
As voters head to the polls today for local government elections across Borno State, the Borno State Independent Electoral Commission, BOSIEC, has reaffirmed that participation in the exercise remains voluntary, stressing that no political party or individual is being compelled to take part.
The assurance came as the Commission confirmed that all preparations for the council polls have been concluded, including the successful distribution of sensitive and non sensitive electoral materials to the state’s 27 local government areas.
The distribution exercise, carried out at the Commission’s headquarters in Maiduguri, was conducted under tight security and witnessed by representatives of political parties, election observers, civil society organisations, the media, and BOSIEC officials, as part of measures to guarantee transparency, accountability, and strict compliance with due process.
Addressing stakeholders at the briefing, the Chairman of BOSIEC, Dr Tahiru Shettima, said the Commission was carrying out its constitutional responsibility to conduct local government elections in line with established legal frameworks. He explained that preparations for the polls began immediately after the announcement of the election date in July, in accordance with constitutional provisions requiring adequate notice.
He noted that seventeen political parties initially expressed interest in the elections, prompting the Commission to issue comprehensive guidelines governing the conduct of the polls. According to him, BOSIEC has remained guided by the 1999 Constitution as amended, the Borno State Independent Electoral Commission Law, and the Electoral Act 2022, stressing that credible elections must be rooted in full legal compliance to earn public confidence and legitimacy.
Dr Shettima clarified that while the Commission provided the framework for the elections, participation by political parties was entirely optional, adding that BOSIEC neither coerced nor pressured any party or individual to contest.
The Commission, he said, engaged political parties through the Inter Party Advisory Council to agree on modalities and clarify roles, while also consulting widely with other stakeholders in the electoral ecosystem, including security agencies, traditional institutions, religious leaders, civil society organisations, the media, and election observers, to ensure a peaceful process.
As part of its preparations, BOSIEC issued a detailed timetable outlining all stages of the electoral process, including party primaries, submission and screening of candidates, substitution timelines, training of ad hoc staff, and activities leading up to Election Day.
Six political parties later formally notified the Commission of their intention to field candidates for the elections. They include the Labour Party, TRP, NNPP, APC, and the Good Party. While political parties conducted their primaries independently, BOSIEC attended strictly as an observer, in line with its guidelines, before candidates’ names were formally submitted.
The Commission also fixed nomination form fees at five hundred thousand naira for the joint chairmanship and vice chairmanship form, and two hundred and fifty thousand naira for councillorship positions, a decision Dr Shettima said was informed by prevailing economic realities and aimed at encouraging broad participation.
All candidates who emerged from party primaries were screened in an open and transparent process conducted at the Commission’s headquarters in Maiduguri. The screening committee included representatives of the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the National Orientation Agency, the Code of Conduct Bureau, the Board of Internal Revenue, as well as members of the Commission.
On logistics, Dr Shettima confirmed that the distribution of sensitive and non sensitive materials was completed with full security oversight. Divisional Police Officers from all 27 local government areas were invited to witness the process, alongside other stakeholders who have been engaged throughout the election cycle.
Each local government area formally took custody of its materials, which were subsequently escorted by security agencies to their respective headquarters. Reports received by the Commission confirmed that all materials arrived safely, with electoral officials now fully deployed and ready for today’s exercise.
On security arrangements, BOSIEC said it formally notified the Theatre Command and other security authorities ahead of the elections and has continued coordination with the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and other paramilitary agencies operating within the state.
Speaking on the overall preparedness of the Commission, Dr Shettima said the Commission was fully ready for the exercise and expressed confidence that the election would be peaceful and credible.
The BOSIEC Chairman also acknowledged the role of the media as partners in the democratic process, urging responsible reporting and clear communication, while cautioning against misinformation capable of undermining public confidence.
He further commended the administration of Governor Babagana Umara Zulum for sustaining democratic governance at the grassroots, noting that the ongoing polls mark the third local government election conducted under the present administration, in line with constitutional provisions and reinforced by Supreme Court judgments mandating elected local government leadership.
Dr Shettima concluded by stressing that credible leadership at the grassroots remains critical to the delivery of democratic dividends, describing himself as a product of the rural community with a lifelong commitment to the welfare of ordinary citizens.
