Two weeks after the Supreme Court granted financial autonomy to local governments (LGs) in Nigeria, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu, stated that the commission is capable of successfully conducting LG elections if given the responsibility by law.
Yakubu made this assertion during his appearance before a Joint National Assembly Committee on Electoral Matters to present the budget for the Ondo and Edo off-cycle elections on Thursday.
He raised concerns about funding for their by-elections in the country.
Currently, state governments organize LG elections in their domains, often resulting in ruling parties winning all chairmanship seats, a practice criticized by opposition parties.
Yakubu explained that the commission, which conducts elections in the 62 wards of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) area councils and national and state government positions, can effectively manage elections across the 774 local government areas with amendments to certain electoral laws.
Regarding the Edo governorship poll on September 21, 2024, and the Ondo governorship election on November 16, 2024, Yakubu highlighted the commission’s technological advancements.
He dismissed concerns over frequent malfunctions of the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal that occurred during the 2023 presidential election, stating that the commission has learned from those issues.
Yakubu also assured that there are no funding fears for off-cycle elections, as the executive has pledged to release funds for the seven upcoming by-elections.
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.