Nigeria may have a good reason for a federal electoral agency like INEC but I don't think that is the best system. At least recent events have led credence to this argument. Most advanced democracies do not have a central electoral body. Rather elections in such democracies are run by the states or regions as the case may be.

For instance, the US does not have an INEC or anything of that nature. Each state here has a Secretary of State who conducts elections independent of the President or federal government. That way, elections are easier to manage and events in one state will not affect events in others.

In fact, the US does not even have a uniform method of voting. Each state decides what method to use according to their finances. Rich states use voting machines or optical scanners while others use paper ballots. Some states like Oregon do not even have polling stations at all. All voting in Oregon are done by mail (regular mail not email).

Most importantly, in the US, everybody do not vote on election day. They have what is called "Absentee Ballot" which allows people to vote up to a month before the election. This was originally meant for people who may not be at their city of residence on election day (for instance, Obama voted by absentee ballot in the recent Mayoral election in Chicago). But now it can be used by anybody especially those who wish to avoid long lines on election day.

Huge tasks are easier to manage when they are broken into smaller parts. The US has perfected that system. Maybe we should learn from them.

Nice idea but you know our states na! The incumbent Governor will simply chop all the votes. You will see a state with as many votes as the nation. We may get there someday.

efisher:

Nice idea but you know our states na! The incumbent Governor will simply chop all the votes. You will see a state with as many votes as the nation. We may get there someday.

Even with the federal govt handling it, have they not always rig to their own benefit and that of their party?

not even the states but the local govt. should do they elections, joker. i think, we should learn to do like zimbabwe. get incument govt out before conducting election with the help of international comunity.

@Poster, INEC is not a supposed to be under the Federal government --- it is an independent agency that handles, according to the constitution, all electoral issues in the Nation. We do not need separate agencies to handle federal elections and state elections. We already have INEC --- no need to create new SYSTEMS when all that is needed is we develop what we have so it works more effectively and efficiently!!

Kobojunkie:

@Poster, INEC is not a supposed to be under the Federal government --- it is an independent agency that handles, according to the constitution, all electoral issues in the Nation.

If one is to believe Nigerian news sources, it was reported today that the INEC boss submitted his resignation to Goodluck Jonathan and he rejected it. Doesn't that pre-suppose that Jega reports to Jonathan? I could be wrong since I'm not close enough to know all the facts.

The point still remains that with de-centralization, every state will handle their own affairs regardless of what happens elsewhere. Why should every state in Nigeria suffer because a few states couldn't get their act together?