By Nathaniel Gana and Dominic James

Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has urged the State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) to strive to conduct local government elections in the manner that INEC conducts the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council Elections.

Prof. Yakubu made the call on Tuesday, 31st July 2025, during a courtesy visit by a delegation of the Forum of State Independent Electoral Commissions of Nigeria (FOSIECON), led by its Chairman, Hon. Mamman Nda Eri.

He described local government elections and local government areas as the foundation of credible elections and development, just as he expressed satisfaction over the emergence of elected local government councils in all states of the federation. But Prof Yakubu expressed reservations about the quality of the local government elections.

He said: “Your role is significant to credible elections in Nigeria. Local government elections, just like local government areas, are the foundation, not only of credible elections, but also of development, and we will continue to partner with you in this regard. I am glad to note that virtually all the States of the Federation now have elected local government councils.

“But you will agree with me that the challenge is the quality of the elections. I hope there will be an opportunity for us to discuss how INEC can partner with the SIECs to continue to improve the quality of these elections. We share responsibility with the SIECs on the conduct of local government elections. The best cooperation that can exist between INEC and the SIECs is for the SIECs to strive to conduct local government elections in the manner that INEC has done in the FCT.”

He continued: “As you know, the FCT is the only part of the country where there has never been a caretaker committee in the six area councils. Elections have been conducted regularly, initially for a period of three years, but with the amendment to the Electoral Act, the tenure has been streamlined to four years, just like the executive and legislative elections conducted by INEC. The elections are held regularly, and no one party has ever won all the elections in the FCT. And we have functional offices in all six area councils in the FCT. And there is, equally, the importance of planning in the conduct of elections.”

Explaining further, the INEC Chairman said while the next FCT area council election would take place next year, the Commission had earlier this year released the Timetable and Schedule of Activities over 360 days ahead of the election as provided by law.

His words: “It is on this note that I would like to seize this opportunity to draw your attention to the judgment of the Supreme Court, which the Chairman of FOSIECON alluded to on the conduct of local government elections. Conducting local government elections without serving the mandatory statutory notice long before the election contravenes the judgment of the Supreme Court.

“Recent announcement by a state electoral commission, which gives, in effect, 21 days’ notice, is not only a violation of the law and the subsisting judgment of the Supreme Court, it is also a practical problem. Within 21 days, how do you expect political parties to conduct primaries, nominate candidates, organise a campaign, and for the Electoral Commission to conduct voter education, recruit and train ad hoc staff, manage logistics, and organise security for the election? It is practically impossible to do so within 21 days. Therefore, as the umbrella body of all state electoral commissions, carry this message to your members about the importance of complying with statutory timelines in the conduct of local government elections.”

Speaking earlier, the Chairman of FOSIECON, Hon. Mamman Eri, said the delegation embarked on the visit to introduce the newly inaugurated national executive formally and to foster the enduring partnership between INEC and FOSIECON. He asked for the Commission’s support in the areas of technical assistance, capacity building and knowledge sharing.

He also talked about the recent Supreme Court judgement that annulled the Rivers State local government election. “It is clear that most of the states have their laws that have been enacted and passed by the House of Assemblies,” he stated. “The fact remains that most of us have this issue of 90-day notice for election. And from all indications, one of the things that the Supreme Court judgment hammered on is the issue of 360 days.

“How do we marry this with our state laws and the laws made by the National Assembly for the FCT? And from that judgment, we learned that the procedure that INEC uses is the same procedure that is expected to be used for local government elections.

“At this juncture, it is possible that most of the states are not financially capable of going through the procedure because I know the procedure is extensive and ambiguous. When we talk of logistics, most of the states are not financially independent. So, if, through knowledge sharing, our parent body, which is the INEC, can pull their weight to see that financial autonomy is being granted to SIEC, I believe a lot of things will change.”