EX-KADUNA State senator and a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Shehu Sani, has likened the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to a leopard and the State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECOMs) to the hyena.
Obviously reacting to the outcome of last weekend’s Rivers State local government election where the candidates of the Action People’s Party (APP) secured a resounding victory, winning 22 out of 23 local government areas while the candidate of Action Alliance (AA) won the remaining seat, the ex-lawmaker drew a striking analogy to describe the difference between INEC and SIECOMs
According to him, INEC is a leopard that “eats some and leaves some for others,” implying that INEC allows for some competition and fairness in national elections. In contrast, Sani described SIECOMs as hyenas that “eat everything, including the bones, and leave nothing for others.”
This vivid comparison suggests that SIECOMs tend to be more biased towards the ruling party, leaving little room for opposition parties to compete fairly in local elections.
The APP’s landslide victory, winning 22 chairmanship positions, while the AA secured only one local government area has raised concerns about the electoral process and potential disputes.
Sani’s commentary highlights the challenges facing Nigeria’s electoral system, particularly at the state and local levels.
The Rivers State local government election outcome and similar outcomes in Akwa Ibom, Benue, and Jigawa states have sparked intense debate about the integrity of the electoral process and the role of SIECOMs.
Sani’s analogy has resonated with many, underscoring the need for electoral reform and increased transparency.
Eighteen-Eleven Media