INTRODUCTION

By section 197(1)(b) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), every State of the Federation has been empowered to establish and supervise elections into its Local Government Areas.

Consequent upon the above Constitutional provisions, the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly enacted a law to establish the Akwa Ibom State Independent Electoral Commission (AKISIEC). This principal Law is the Akwa Ibom State Independent Electoral Commission Law, 2007 now Cap 69, Law of Akwa Ibom State, 2022. Following the enactment of the Electoral Act (2022), the Akwa Ibom State Independent Electoral Commission Law (2007) was consequently amended and signed into Law on the 6th of May, 2024 by His Excellency, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State.

VISION STATEMENT

To Be One Of The Best Election Management Bodies In The Country.

MISSION STATEMENT

To organise, undertake, and supervise all elections to Local Government Councils within the State; to render such advice as it may consider necessary to the Independent National Electoral Commission on the compilation of the register of voters in so far as that register is applicable to Local Government Elections in the State; to provide guidelines to political parties stipulating the rules and procedures for electioneering campaigns, subject to the provisions of the relevant law on Local Government administration; to carry out such other functions as may be conferred on it by Law.

OBJECTIVES OF AKISIEC

1. To conduct periodic, free, fair, credible, and hitch-free Local Government General Elections for sustainable and unfettered democracy at the grassroots.
2. To ensure periodic ward creation, delineation, and delimitation to deepen local democracy and promote good governance at the grassroots.
3. To acquaint political parties with the relevant guidelines regulating the conduct of Local Government Elections and ensuring maximum compliance of such guidelines subject to the provisions of the relevant law on Local Government Administration.
4. To minimize voter apathy and improve the involvement of the electorate, political stakeholders, and other collaborating agencies in strengthening democratic and electoral processes at the grassroots.
5. To minimize electoral litigations as well as handle resultant arbitrations expeditiously.
6. To collaborate with Independent National Electoral Commission in all matters related to elections for the advancement of democracy.

CORE VALUES

• Independence
• Neutrality
• Efficiency
• Transparency
• Teamwork
• Professionalism
• Excellence

COMPOSITION OF THE COMMISSION

(a) The Board Chairman and Members are appointed by the Governor, subject to the approval of the State House of Assembly. The Chairman is the Chief Electoral Commissioner, Accounting Officer, and Chief Executive Officer. The Commission has six Board Members known as Electoral Commissioners who complement the Chairman of the Commission.

(b) The Secretary of the Commission is appointed by the Governor and as Head of Secretariat of the Commission, the Secretary is responsible for the administration, direction, and control of all other employees of the Commission.

The Commission’s Secretariat at the Headquarters is organized into six directorates which are headed by heads of directorates. They are:

• Administration and Supplies
• Accounts and Finance
• Planning, Research, Statistics and Training
• Legal Affairs, Public Relations, and Political Parties Monitoring
• Estates and Works
• Field Services and Logistics

The functions of each Directorate are adequately backed up by their complementary units.

(c) The Electoral Officers (EOs) are appointed from amongst its staff, by the Commission across the thirty-one (31) Local Government Areas in the State and are the administrative heads of their respective Area Offices.

POWERS OF THE COMMISSION

1. Organize, conduct, and supervise all elections into all elective offices in the Local Government Councils within the state.
2. Render such advice as it may consider necessary to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the compilation of the register of voters in so far as that register is applicable to Local Government Elections in the State.
3. Provide guidelines to political parties, stipulating the rules and procedures for electioneering campaigns, subject to the provisions of the relevant law on Local Government Administration.
4. May create new Local Government Wards after every 10 years, as the circumstances of each Local Government Area may require. The boundaries of each ward shall be such that the number of inhabitants of the ward is or nearly equal to the population quota of the ward as is reasonably practicable.
5. Ensure that all the Electoral Officials take and subscribe to the relevant Oath of Neutrality.
6. Carry out such other functions as may be conferred by law.