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INEC Not Responsible For Local Govt Elections – Yakubu
Prof. Mahmood Yakubu clarified that INEC lacks constitutional authority to conduct local government elections, except in the FCT, and emphasized that constitutional amendments are needed for any change.
EKO HOT BLOG reports that Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, clarified that the commission does not have the constitutional authority to conduct local government elections, except in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Speaking at a two-day induction retreat for INEC Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) in Lagos, Yakubu addressed calls for INEC to take on the responsibility of conducting local council elections, describing it as a ‘constitutional matter.’
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Yakubu emphasized that without the necessary constitutional amendments, INEC would remain focused solely on organizing 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 explained.
INEC Local Govt Elections Yakubu
He acknowledged the advocacy for INEC to oversee all elections but stressed that constitutional changes are required for this to happen. Currently, INEC’s mandate includes conducting local government elections only in the FCT, involving six area council chairmen and 62 councillors.
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“For now, INEC can only conduct the local government elections in the Federal Capital Territory with six area council chairmen and 62 councillors.
“We are encouraged by what we have done, but as for taking over state elections, the constitution has to be amended, and we are not there yet,” he stated.
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