Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), stated that the commission does not have the constitutional authority to conduct local council elections, except within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). He made this remark on the sidelines of a two-day induction retreat for INEC Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) held on Monday in Lagos.
Responding to calls for constitutional backing for INEC to oversee local council elections, Yakubu emphasized that this is a constitutional matter. He explained that without necessary amendments to the constitution, INEC’s responsibilities remain limited to 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. He added, “It is good for people to engage in advocacy for INEC to take charge of the whole elections, but the constitution has to be amended for that to happen.”
Yakubu clarified that INEC is currently only authorized to conduct local government elections in the FCT, which includes six area council chairmen and 62 councillors. He noted that the conduct of council elections in the FCT has been regular and well-executed, showcasing INEC’s capability in managing these elections.
While there is ongoing advocacy for constitutional amendments to dissolve the State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) and transfer their functions to INEC, Yakubu reiterated that such changes have not yet occurred. He acknowledged the concerns that state governors are hijacking local council allocations due to irregularities in the conduct of local government polls.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some Nigerians are supporting the dissolution of SIECs in the ongoing constitutional amendment process. Proponents believe that transferring SIEC functions to INEC would ensure independence and transparency in local government elections. The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), echoed this sentiment in March, calling for the scrapping of SIECs to bolster the integrity of local government elections.
