The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is capable and willing to conduct local government elections if given the responsibility by law, according to Chairman Mahmood Yakubu. He made this statement while presenting the Ondo and Edo off-cycle elections budget to a Joint National Assembly Committee on Electoral Matters.
Currently, state governments organize local government elections, which has been criticized by opposition parties for being biased towards the ruling parties. Yakubu emphasized that INEC has successfully conducted elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) area councils and can replicate this across the 774 local government areas with amendments to the electoral laws.
The INEC chairman also addressed concerns about funding for by-elections, stating that the executive has pledged to release necessary funds. He appealed to lawmakers to pass the Electoral Offenders Bill to empower INEC to investigate and prosecute electoral offenses.
Yakubu also highlighted technological improvements made by INEC, assuring that the frequent malfunctions of the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal during the 2023 presidential election will not recur.
