NIHRCO said Nigerians should be encouraged to show interest in local government elections, stressing that if Nigeria gets it right at the local government level, it will be easier to conduct credible elections at the National level.
The Nigerian Human Rights Community, NIHRCO, has called for the use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) in local government elections across the country.
The group asserted that it might require special funds for State Independent Electoral Commissions to enable the institution to develop the technology that would broaden popular participation, ensure real-time transmission of results and take local government elections to a higher level.
The coalition called on the National Assembly to create special intervention funds to assist the State Electoral Commission to meet democratic obligations in line with the fiscal support given by the Federal Government to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
NIHRCO said Nigerians should be encouraged to show interest in local government elections, stressing that if Nigeria gets it right at the local government level, it will be easier to conduct credible elections at the National level.
NIHRCO, a coalition of 135 civil society and community-based groups spread across the country, made this known in a statement jointly signed by its Programme Officers, Fred Ojinika and Taiwo Adeleye, after the election of 38 chairmen and 177 councillors which was held on Saturday.
The group which monitored the election in 177 wards commended the people and government of Ekiti State for a peaceful local government election in the Southwest state.
The coalition asked state governments that are yet to conduct local government elections to do so, stressing that local government administration is integral to democracy and development.
"The Local Government election was not perfect, but it represented a remarkable achievement in building sustainable democratic culture in Nigeria,” the group said.
"The National Assembly and the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC need to work with the State Independent Electoral Commission, SEIC to ensure that Bimodal Voters Accreditation System, (BVAS) are deployed in local elections adding that National elections are as important as Local Government elections,” it said.
The group said using BVAS for National Elections is good but that the same technology should be used in Local Government elections which may require special funds for SIECs to enable the institution to develop the technology that will broaden popular participation.