BREAKING: INEC chairman speaks on agency 'taking over' conduct of LG elections from state electoral commissions

• INEC boss, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, on Thursday, July 25, led a team of national commissioners, directors, and the chief press secretary (CPS) to brief the national assembly joint committee on electoral matters
• Legit.ng reports that the key meeting was held at the national assembly (NASS) complex in Abuja
• Off-cycle election budgets and issues surrounding local government elections in the country topped the agenda

Legit.ng journalist Ridwan Adeola Yusuf has over 9 years of experience covering politics, governance, and elections.

FCT, Abuja - The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it can easily conduct local government (LG) elections in Nigeria if saddled with the responsibilty.

As reported by The Nation, INEC chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu said this on Thursday, July 25, when he appeared before the joint senate and house of representatives committee on electoral matters.

INEC had been conducting area council elections in the FCT, but state electoral commissions handle LG polls. Photo credit: Kola Sulaimon
Source: Getty Images

Legit.ng understands that Yakubu appeared before the federal lawmakers to explain the agency's preparedness for the upcoming governorship elections in Ondo and Edo states.

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Currently, all 36 states have independent election commissions which organise local government elections in the states.

Addressing the legislators, Yakubu said INEC has the capacity to handle the local government elections but that would only be possible pending when the law is amended to permit it to do so.

He pointed out that the commission had been conducting area council elections in the federal capital territory (FCT) which, according to him, has been devoid of the problems associated with the conduct of local government elections.

Merits of INEC conducting elections in Nigeria

Furthermore, the former executive secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) stated that some advantages of INEC handling elections include conducting regular elections as and when due, and stability of tenure.

He noted that there has never been a time one political party has won all the seats at the elections as is common in the states, adding that if INEC handles the LG polls, it would be better for democracy. However, Prof. Yakubu said this can only happen if the constitution is amended to take away the responsibility from state electoral commissions.

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INEC’s chairman risks jail

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Yakubu risks jail term if he continues to disobey a court order which allegedly declared Edozie Njoku as the national chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

Speaking in Abuja on the committal charge against the INEC boss, Njoku and members of the national working committee (NWC) of APGA cautioned Prof. Yakubu not to treat the 14-day grace given to him by a court with levity.

Source: Legit.ng