By Nathaniel Gana

Thursday 25th July 2024

Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu has assured lawmakers that the Commission has the capacity to conduct Local Government elections across the country, if the laws are amended to empower the Commission to do so.

He gave the assurance on Thursday 25th July 2024, when he led a team from the Commission to appear before the National Assembly Joint Committee on Electoral Matters at the National Assembly complex to brief the lawmakers on preparations for the Edo and Ondo governorship elections, scheduled for September and November respectively.

Highlighting some of the positives recorded by INEC, Prof.Yakubu said elections are held regularly in the FCT Area Councils, thereby guranteeing certianty and leaving no room for the appointment of caretaker committees.

The INEC Chairman said the dynamism about the elections could also be seen from the pattern of those who emerge as winners, pointing out that two major political parties currently occupy three Chairmanship seats each in the FCT. He said there has never been a time that one political party won all the seats in the FCT Area Council elections, in contrast to what happens in the Local Government elections conducted in the States.

Commenting on the upcoming end-of-tenure governorship elections in Edo and Ondo states, the INEC Chairman assured that the Commission was ready to conduct the elections.

His words: “As we speak, we have 57 days to the opening of polls in Edo state, and 113 days to the election in Ondo state. The Commission is prepared for the elections. I must also say that this particular Commission has a history of having successfully conducted two governorship elections in each of the two states. We conducted the Governorship election in Edo in 2016, September 2020, and by God’s grace we will do so again in September 2024. Also in Ondo State, we conducted the governorship election in 2016, October 2020, and by God’s grace, we will conduct another one on the 16th of November 2024. So, we have a lot of experience in both states.”

The INEC Chairman also disclosed that the Commission has successfully implemented eight out of the 13 activities outlined in the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for both states without shifting or delaying any activity.

His words: “Number nine activity in the case of Edo State is the submission of the names of the polling agents by political parties, which according to the timetable, is at the end of this month on the 30th of July.”

On the Commission’s concerns ahead of the elections, Prof. Yakubu noted that despite the challenge of flooding at the Edo INEC State office, the Commission has overcome the slight setback and remobilized for the election.

He however acknowledged a concern raised by one of the Political Parties on the use of the Edo State Security Network (ESSN) in the electoral process in the state, but assured that the matter was taken up with the Commissioner of Police who promised to resolve the issues.

PHOTO CAPTION:
R-L: INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, National Commissioners, Dr Baba Bila, Prof. Sani Adam, Mr Sam Olumekun mni, Prof. Rhoda Gumus, Mallam Mohammed Haruna and Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Mr. Rotimi Oyekanmi, during the Commission’s presentation before the Joint Committee on Electoral Matters, at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja on Thursday 25th July 2024.

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We Can Handle LG Elections If Law Permits, INEC Chairman Declares