Two weeks after the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling granting financial autonomy to local governments in Nigeria, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu, has expressed confidence in the commission’s ability to successfully conduct local government elections if mandated by law.
Yakubu made this declaration during his appearance before a Joint National Assembly Committee on Electoral Matters, where he presented the budget for the Ondo and Edo off-cycle elections.
However, he raised concerns about funding for by-elections in the country. Currently, state governments are responsible for organizing local government elections, which has led to allegations of bias, with ruling parties often sweeping the chairmanship seats of all local councils. Opposition parties have criticized this arrangement.
Yakubu emphasized that INEC has a proven track record of conducting hitch-free elections in the 62 wards of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) area councils, in addition to national and state government positions.
With amendments to certain provisions of the electoral laws, he believes INEC can conveniently conduct local government elections across all 774 local government areas.
For the September 21, 2024, Edo governorship poll and the November 16, 2024, Ondo governorship election, the INEC boss urged Nigerians to appreciate the tremendous technological improvements of the commission.
He ruled out frequent malfunctions of the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal that characterised the 2023 presidential election, maintaining that the commission has learnt its lessons.
He further explained that the commission has no fears regarding the funding for off-cycle elections, as the executive has pledged to release funds for the seven by-elections before the commission.
Again, Mahmood appealed to the lawmakers to speedily pass the Electoral Offenders Bill under the current Assembly to empower the commission with the capacity and resources to effect arrests, thoroughly investigate electoral offences and mitigate electoral malfeasance.
