The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu, has confirmed that the commission is capable of conducting local government elections across Nigeria if provided with the necessary resources. He cited the successful management of area council polls in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as evidence of INEC’s capacity.
Prof. Yakubu made these remarks on Thursday during an appearance before the National Assembly Joint Committee on INEC and Electoral Committees. Responding to questions regarding the Supreme Court verdict on financial autonomy for local governments, he acknowledged discussions about either unbundling INEC or creating a new federal agency to handle council polls. However, he emphasized that INEC possesses the required competence, human resources, and experience to conduct local government elections in the country’s 774 councils.
Yakubu stated, “If this responsibility for the conduct of local government elections is transferred to INEC, can INEC cope? The answer is yes, INEC can cope.” He highlighted that INEC already manages national, state, and local elections, including the six FCT area councils with their 62 wards.
He pointed out that INEC’s consistent track record of conducting elections, including those in the FCT, where no single party has dominated, demonstrates the commission’s ability to manage local government elections effectively. He also noted that recent amendments to the Electoral Act ensure a four-year tenure for area councils in the FCT, reinforcing stability and security.
However, Yakubu indicated that if the National Assembly decided to amend the Constitution to transfer the responsibility of conducting local government elections to INEC, certain legislative changes would be necessary. He questioned whether the federal government would fund state and local elections or if a new federal electoral commission would be established specifically for local government elections.
Yakubu stressed that while INEC is prepared to take on these additional responsibilities, it should not be unbundled beyond its core electoral functions, suggesting that other agencies could handle certain duties. He assured the joint panel that INEC had made adequate arrangements for upcoming off-cycle elections in Edo and Ondo states and had budgeted for outstanding by-elections in seven federal and state legislative constituencies.
Finally, Yakubu mentioned that INEC’s 2024 budget is being funded appropriately by the Ministry of Finance, with monthly releases of N23.3 billion out of the N40 billion appropriated for the year.
