Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu says the Commission is ready and capable of handling local governments election if given the task.
Yakubu said this yesterday, while appearing 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. He , however, said the INEC’s ability to manage local government elections is contingent upon a change in the law to empower it to do so.
Yakubu cited the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT), where INEC has successfully conducted area council elections, as an example of its capability.
The INEC Chairman highlighted several benefits of having the commission handle local government elections, including the assurance of timely elections, tenure stability, and the absence of caretaker committees.
He noted that in the FCT, no political party has ever swept all seats in an election, unlike in most States.
Yakubu reiterated that INEC’s involvement in local government elections can only be achieved through a Constitutional amendment that transfers the responsibility from State electoral commissions. He stressed that this change is necessary to ensure the integrity and fairness of local government elections.
Furthermore, Yakubu pointed out that the current system, where State Electoral Commissions handle local government elections, has been marred by controversies and irregularities, arguing that INEC’s involvement would bring about a level of professionalism and impartiality to the process.
The INEC Boss asserted that INEC taking charge of local government elections will be a welcome development.
