INEC faults 21-day notice for LG polls, says it violates s’court ruling

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has called on state independent electoral commissions (SIECs) across the country to improve the quality and credibility of LGA polls.

Mahmood Yakubu, the INEC chairman, spoke on Tuesday at a meeting with executive members of the Forum of State Independent Electoral Commissions of Nigeria (FOSIECON) in Abuja on Tuesday.

He said although virtually all states of the federation now have local government councils, there is a challenge of election quality.

He cited the federal capital territory (FCT) as a model for consistent and credible LGA polls, noting that it is the only part of the country where caretaker committees have never replaced elected councils.

He said elections are held regularly, and no political party has won all the area councils.

He said SIECs must step up the credibility of their elections to avoid damaging the integrity of the country’s electoral process.

“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 said.

The INEC chairman warned SIECs against disregarding the supreme court’s judgment on statutory notice periods for elections.

He condemned recent actions by a state electoral body that gave only 21 days’ notice before local government elections, describing it as “unlawful” and “impractical”.

“I want to draw your attention to the judgment of the supreme court on the conduct of local government elections. Conducting local government elections without having the mandatory notice long before the election contravenes the judgment of the supreme court,” he said.

“A recent announcement by a state electoral commission, which gave only a 21-day notice, is not only a violation of the law and the subsisting judgment of the Supreme Court; it is also a practical problem.

“How can political parties conduct primaries, nominate candidates, and campaign while the electoral commission prepares logistics, training, and security within 21 days? It is practically impossible.

“So, as the umbrella body of state electoral commissions, carry this message to your members as to the importance of complying with statutory timelines for the conduct of local government elections.

“Money is never greatly available for the conduct of elections and electoral activities. But your challenges actually go beyond funding. Without a clear definition of processes and procedures, no amount of money will solve any problem.”