The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared its readiness to conduct local government elections if given the responsibility.
INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, made this assertion on Thursday, July 25, during his appearance before the joint Senate and House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters to discuss preparations for the upcoming governorship elections in Edo and Ondo States.
Yakubu affirmed INEC’s capacity to manage local government elections, contingent on legal amendments permitting it. He highlighted INEC’s successful conduct of area council elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as evidence of its capability, noting the absence of issues commonly associated with local government elections.
He pointed out several advantages of INEC overseeing elections, including the regular scheduling of elections, stable tenure of officeholders, and the elimination of caretaker committees in the FCT. Additionally, he noted the diversity of political party victories in FCT elections, contrasting it with the monopolization seen in some state elections.
Yakubu emphasized that having INEC manage local government elections would enhance democracy but stressed that this shift would require constitutional amendments to transfer the responsibility from state electoral commissions.
