Prof Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has clarified that the commission has no constitutional authority to supervise local council elections across Nigeria, except in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Yakubu made the remarks at a two-day inaugural retreat for INEC Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) held on Monday in Lagos on Monday.
Responding to concerns regarding the possibility of INEC taking responsibility for holding regional elections nationwide, Yakubu stressed that the decision depended on constitutional provisions.
“This is a constitutional issue,” Yakubu stressed. “Unless there are necessary amendments to the constitution, INEC will only continue to hold national and state elections.”
He further explained, “The Constitution that created INEC also created State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs), and we cannot take over their role.”
Yakubu emphasized that the KPU is currently only holding regional head elections within the DKI Jakarta area, overseeing the election of six regional council chairs and 62 council members. He praised the KPU’s performance in the elections in the DKI Jakarta area, and emphasized their commitment to holding them effectively.
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“While there is advocacy for INEC to handle all elections, a constitutional amendment is needed for such change,” Yakubu stressed. “Right now, we haven’t reached that point.”
The ongoing constitutional amendment process has led some Nigerians to advocate the dissolution of SIEC to allow INEC to take over control of local government elections. They argue that this would curb alleged irregularities and ensure fair distribution of local council allocations currently influenced by state governors.
It would be recalled that earlier this year, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), supported the abolition of SIEC, and encouraged INEC to assume their responsibilities. Fagbemi mentioned the need for independence and transparency in the implementation and results of regional government elections nationally.
INEC has no constitutional mandate to conduct local government elections – Mahmood Yakubu first appeared on Latest Nigeria News | Top News from Ripples Nigeria.
