By joshua KOSIEC Delivering Credible Poll in October? Spotlight on Mamman Nda Eri, Grassroots Democracy.
Abu Micheal
Holding Kogi State Independent Electoral Commission responsible and accountable seems to be the sing song on the lips of Kogites ahead the October council election. Attention has now shifted to the electoral body to conduct a credible and transparent election devoid of the manner council polls have been viewed in time past, because the importance of grassroots election cannot be over emphasized.
Council elections are democracy at your doorstep, the tier of government closest to the people where impact is felt fastest. Elected chairmen and councillors control funds for primary healthcare centres, rural roads, drainages, markets, boreholes and street lights, and they are more directly accountable to fix potholes on your street than an appointed caretaker. The process gives citizens direct say in who manages their community, with the right to walk to the council secretariat, attend town hall meetings and question leaders. Accountability is sharper when officials face re-election every three to four years, and that fear of the ballot keeps them on their toes. Councils also create jobs by employing teachers, health workers, sanitation staff and revenue collectors, while opening space for youth and women to contest as councillors and bring fresh ideas into governance. Regular elections reduce tension and serve as a safety valve of democracy, and strong elected councils provide checks and balances that prevent state governments from controlling everything. They are more likely to publish budgets and be audited because citizens and media are watching, and many governors, senators and even presidents started as councillors or council chairmen. Where there are no credible council elections, government remains far from the people. With them, democracy starts working where it matters most – your street, your market, your clinic.
The electoral body is the referee and organizer of that process. In Nigeria INEC handles federal and state elections, while State Independent Electoral Commissions like KOSIEC handle local government polls. Their job is to make the process free, fair and credible through voter registration and register compilation, delimitation of wards and polling units, screening of candidates and publication of their names, voter education, procurement and distribution of ballot papers, result sheets, BVAS machines and other materials, recruitment and training of ad-hoc staff, management of accreditation, voting, counting and collation, security coordination, dispute management, and the declaration of results. Above all, the body must act as an unbiased umpire. Section 153 and 197 of the 1999 Constitution guarantee INEC and SIEC independence, though funding and appointment issues often test that principle.
KOSIEC is the body saddled with electing 21 local government chairmen and 239 councillors in Kogi State, a mandate backed by Section 197(1)(b) and Section 7(1) of the Constitution. It fixes election dates, extracts and cleans the voter register from INEC’s database, defines ward and polling unit boundaries, verifies that chairmanship candidates are 25 years and above and councillorship candidates are 18 years and above with the required qualifications, prints and distributes sensitive materials from Lokoja to all LGAs, trains polling officials drawn largely from teachers, NYSC members and civil servants, manages voting and collation from polling units to the state collation centre, and issues Certificates of Return to winners. It also conducts voter education in Ebira, Igala, Okun and Nupe languages and handles complaints through the Kogi State Local Government Election Petition Tribunal. Unlike INEC, KOSIEC’s chairman and commissioners are appointed by the Kogi State Governor and confirmed by the House of Assembly, with funding coming from the state government, a structure that raises questions of independence but also places responsibility squarely on the commission to prove its neutrality.
The responsibility for credible local government elections in Kogi rests squarely on KOSIEC, an institution established to strengthen grassroots democracy and ensure legitimate local leadership through a transparent process. Since its establishment, different chairmen have led the commission with varying levels of achievement, some recording modest successes and others leaving more remarkable footprints.
Among those whose stewardship has attracted public attention is the current chairman, Honourable Mamman Nda Eri. His first tenure witnessed the successful conduct of local government elections on December 12, 2020, an exercise many observers considered a test of the commission’s capacity. His reappointment was widely viewed as a vote of confidence in his leadership and commitment to duty. As preparations intensify for the next local government elections scheduled for October 17, 2026, KOSIEC’s activities have continued to attract attention from political stakeholders, civil society groups, traditional institutions and the electorate.
One of the commission’s earliest steps was the release of the official Notice of Election and a comprehensive timetable, announcing the date well in advance to give parties and candidates adequate time to prepare. That early planning has been regarded as a positive step toward orderliness and coordination. KOSIEC has also embarked on extensive stakeholder consultations, including a Lokoja engagement where the reviewed KOSIEC Law 2025 and operational guidelines were presented to political parties, security agencies, civil society organisations, traditional rulers, religious leaders, media practitioners and development partners. Such broad-based consultations are seen as essential for building trust and reducing tension. The commission has intensified voter education across the three senatorial districts, engaging citizens on electoral procedures and the need for peaceful participation, with traditional rulers playing a key role in grassroots mobilization. Security remains central, and recent engagements with security agencies under the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security underline collaboration to safeguard voters, officials and materials. KOSIEC has also notified parties that campaigns commence on May 20, 2026, while consistently advocating issue-based campaigns and cautioning against hate speech, violence and voter intimidation.
Despite these preparations, public expectations remain high. Across Nigeria citizens increasingly demand transparency, accountability and credibility at all levels, and concerns about voter participation, vote-buying, logistics and the overall integrity of the process dominate discourse. The success of the 2026 elections will be measured not only by what happens on election day but by the fairness, inclusiveness and public acceptance of the entire process. While KOSIEC’s preparations suggest institutional readiness, the ultimate test lies in its ability to maintain neutrality, enforce regulations without bias and deliver outcomes that reflect the will of the electorate. Political parties, candidates and supporters also have responsibilities to respect rules and conduct themselves peacefully.
The qualities expected of a chairman of an electoral body are therefore critical. Observers note that Honourable Mamman Nda Eri is being assessed against nine core attributes: a reputation for integrity and impartiality that assures voters the rules will not be bent; independence and courage to resist pressure from political elites; sound knowledge of the Electoral Act 2022, the Constitution and Kogi LGA Law; strong administrative and managerial competence to handle the logistics of 21 LGAs and 239 wards; technological savviness to manage BVAS and result transmission; transparency and communication skills to brief stakeholders honestly and in local languages; political neutrality combined with emotional intelligence to manage tension; accountability and respect for the rule of law including sanctioning erring staff; and patriotism with a commitment to democracy that places the voter above any appointor. A good chairman makes elections boring because everything works, while a poor one makes them violent because trust collapses.
Honourable Mamman Nda Eri’s emergence as National Chairman of the Forum of State Independent Electoral Commissions of Nigeria has further elevated his profile within the country’s electoral administration landscape. The position comes with greater responsibility and increased public scrutiny, making the October 17, 2026 Kogi local government elections even more significant. As the countdown continues, many observers remain optimistic that KOSIEC will build on previous experience and deliver a process that meets acceptable standards of credibility, transparency and fairness. Ultimately, the commission’s legacy will not be defined by promises or preparations alone, but by its ability to conduct elections that inspire public confidence and strengthen democracy at the grassroots level in Kogi State.
The Commentary Democracy at your doorstep is written by
Abu Micheal, Journalist, Publisher, ANIPR, MNIM, Editorial Board Member, Guild of Interfaith Media Practitioners Nigeria, MCIA.