INEC Chairman Yakubu Says Commission Ready to Handle Local Government Elections

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has expressed confidence in the commission’s ability to conduct local government elections effectively. Speaking before the joint Senate and House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters, Yakubu highlighted INEC’s readiness for the upcoming governorship elections in Edo and Ondo States and emphasized the commission’s capacity to manage local government elections as well.

Yakubu stated that INEC is fully equipped and ready to organize local government elections, provided the legal framework is amended to assign this duty to the commission. He pointed out that INEC has successfully managed area council elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), which have not encountered the typical challenges associated with local government elections.

The INEC chairman outlined several benefits of INEC overseeing these elections, including the regularity of elections, stability of tenure, and the absence of caretaker committees, which are prevalent in state-run elections. Yakubu asserted that transferring the responsibility of local government elections to INEC would strengthen democratic practices in Nigeria.

This statement comes two weeks after the Supreme Court granted financial autonomy to local governments in Nigeria. The ruling has sparked discussions about the role of INEC in conducting local government elections, with some Nigerians advocating for the dissolution of the State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) in the ongoing constitutional amendment process.

Yakubu’s remarks have been met with mixed reactions from the public. While some have praised INEC’s track record in conducting elections and expressed confidence in the commission’s ability to handle local government elections, others have raised concerns about the potential for political interference and the need for a more independent electoral body.

As the debate continues, it remains to be seen whether the legal framework will be amended to allow INEC to take charge of local government elections in Nigeria. However, Yakubu’s statement has undoubtedly added fuel to the fire, and it will be interesting to see how the situation develops in the coming months.