The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu, has said that the electoral body can conduct the local government (LG) elections successfully.
Yakubu gave this assurance on Thursday when he appeared before a Joint National Assembly Committee on Electoral Matters to present the budget for the off-cycle elections in Ondo and Edo states.
The INEC boss said this two weeks after the Supreme Court granted financial autonomy to local governments in Nigeria, adding that the electoral umpire can successfully conduct the LG elections if given the responsibility by law.
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“The commission, which currently conducts hitch-free elections in the 62 wards in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) area councils in addition to national and state government positions, can conveniently conduct the same across the 774 local government areas with the amendments of certain provisions of the electoral laws,” he said.
Yakubu, however, raised the question of funding for by-elections in Nigeria, even as state governments currently organise LG elections in their respective domains.
It is known that the ruling parties in states clear the chairmanship seats of all local councils, a development which the opposition political parties kicked against.
“The commission has no fears regarding the funding for off-cycle elections, as the executive has pledged to release funds for the seven by-elections before it,” the INEC chief said.
