The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu, has said the commission has the required capacity and competence to conduct local government elections in the country if allotted the necessary resources.
He spoke when he appeared before the National Assembly Joint Committee on INEC and Electoral Committees yesterday in Abuja.
Recall that the Supreme Court recently granted autonomy to local councils following a suit filed by the federal government against state governors who had allegedly hijacked the local government system at the detriment of the people at the grassroots.
Sequel to this, the Senate has proposed a bill seeking to establish a local government electoral commission that would be saddled with the responsibility of conducting elections at that tier.
But fielding questions from the federal lawmakers during the interface yesterday on the matter, the INEC helmsman, Prof. Yakubu, said the commission, under his leadership, possesses the capacity, competence, human resources, and experience needed to conduct local government elections in all 774 LGAs in the country.
He explained that INEC’s consistent conduct of federal and state elections is proof of its capability to manage council polls.
