The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has stated that the commission lacks constitutional authority to conduct local government elections, except within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Prof. Yakubu made this statement during a two-day induction retreat for INEC Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) on Monday in Lagos. The retreat was organized to prepare the RECs for the upcoming governorship elections in Edo and Ondo states, scheduled for September and November, respectively.
Addressing calls for constitutional backing for INEC to oversee local government elections, Yakubu described the issue as a “constitutional matter.” He explained that without the necessary constitutional amendments, INEC’s mandate is limited to organizing national and state elections.
“The same section of the Constitution that establishes INEC also establishes the State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC), and we cannot take over their duties,” Yakubu said. “It is good for people to advocate for INEC to handle all elections, but the Constitution must be amended for that to happen. For now, INEC can only conduct local government elections in the FCT, involving six area council chairmen and 62 councillors. We are proud of our regular conduct of these elections in the FCT.”
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that some Nigerians are advocating for the dissolution of SIECs as part of ongoing constitutional amendments to enable INEC to manage local government elections. Proponents argue that state governors are manipulating local councils’ allocations due to irregularities in LG polls.
In March, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), called for the scrapping of SIECs, suggesting their functions be transferred to INEC to ensure independence and transparency in local government elections.
Meanwhile, the INEC Chairman emphasized the retreat’s importance in preparing new and experienced RECs for upcoming elections. Yakubu highlighted that the retreat would help enhance INEC’s operational capabilities, focusing on the forthcoming governorship elections in Edo and Ondo states, as well as pending by-elections in various states.
Yakubu outlined the commission’s future plans, mentioning the Anambra State Governorship election next year, followed by elections in Ekiti and Osun states in 2026, and the Area Council elections in the FCT.
“Today’s retreat is held against the background of forthcoming governorship elections in Edo State in 81 days and Ondo State in 137 days,” Yakubu said. “We are also instantly implementing reforms and innovations by administrative action and planning to intensify our engagement with the National Assembly for activities that require legal reform.”
He stressed the importance of training and equipping new RECs with the knowledge and skills necessary to handle the upcoming polls effectively. The retreat also aimed to address recurring challenges in pre-election and post-election litigation, voter education, strategic communication, and the use of technology in elections.
The PUNCH reports that nine RECs were sworn in on December 12, 2023, and one on January 30, 2024. They have been deployed to various states, including Kebbi, Borno, Edo, Akwa Ibom, Kaduna, Kwara, Ondo, Ekiti, Delta, and Nasarawa.
