Reps move to strip SIECs of power to conduct LG elections

The House of Representatives has taken preliminary actions and passed a bill to strip State Independent Electoral Commissions of the power to conduct local government elections.

The bill which has passed its first reading on the floor of the House was titled, 'A Bill for an Act to amend the Electoral Act, 2022 to vest INEC with the power to conduct Local Government Council Elections and for Related Matters.'

The bill, which was sponsored by the member representing Ideato North/Ideato South Federal Constituency, Imo State, Ikenga Ugochinyere, alongside 24 others, seeks a replacement of  Section 98 (1) of the Electoral Act.

Section 98 (1), Part VI (Procedure for Election to Area Council) of the Electoral Act currently states: “The conduct of elections into the offices of Chairman, Vice Chairman, and a member of an Area Council and the recall of a member of an Area Council shall be under the direction and supervision of the commission (INEC) in accordance with the provisions of this Act.”

The new sub-section, cited as the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2024, read: “The conduct of elections into the offices of Chairman, Vice Chairman, and a member of an Area Council and the recall of a member of an Area Council shall be conducted solely by the commission in accordance with the provisions of this Act.”

The bill, therefore, seeks to amend the Electoral Act 2022 to vest the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) with the power to conduct Local Government Area Council elections for all the LGAs across the country.”

However, there are agitations from federal lawmakers and eminent groups for INEC to take over the conduct of council elections to avoid state governors' influence.

INEC has consistently reiterated its readiness to assume the responsibility of conducting local government elections if the National Assembly amended the relevant laws governing the country’s electoral processes.

Recall that in July 2024, the INEC chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, who appeared before a joint committee of the Senate and House of Representatives on Electoral Matters stated, “The same Constitution that created INEC also created the State Electoral Commissions. So, it is up to the National Assembly to amend the law to transfer that responsibility to INEC.

“If the responsibility for the conduct of local government elections is transferred to INEC, can INEC cope with it? The answer is yes! INEC can cope. What are we? By definition, INEC is the Independent National Electoral Commission, but right now, we handle only national and state elections—not local government elections.

“A national electoral commission may be expected to handle only the presidential and National Assembly elections, but we also oversee gubernatorial elections, state Assembly elections, and the Area Councils elections in the Federal Capital Territory, the only part of the country where INEC currently conducts local government elections.

“Broadly speaking, if you ask us if we can handle local government elections, yes, we can. When will this happen? When you amend the law and empower the commission to do so.”