National Assembly Mulls Constitution Review for INEC to Conduct LG Polls

• The National Assembly is considering amending the constitution to allow INEC to oversee local government elections instead of state electoral bodies
• Senator Karimi noted that some state governors will fight against this change, while Senator Dafinone criticized the recent local government elections in Delta State as a sham

The National Assembly is considering amending the 1999 constitution to allow the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to oversee local government elections instead of state electoral bodies.

This initiative follows a recent Supreme Court ruling that granted autonomy to local government areas, prompted by a federal government lawsuit.

During a press conference in Abuja, representing Kogi West, Senator Sunday Karimi emphasized that the National Assembly will ensure state governments comply with the Supreme Court’s judgement by amending the constitution to address inherent contentious issues. Karimi, the Committee on Senate Services Chairman, stated, “These include grey areas like the transfer of the responsibility of the conduct of elections to the local councils from the various state electoral bodies to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).”

He further noted that the battle is over, adding, “Some state governors will fight back.”

Senator Okakuro Ede Dafinone, representing Delta Central, also voiced his support for the amendment. He asserted that the 1999 Constitution should be revised to grant INEC the legal right to be the sole body responsible for conducting local government elections.

“I think at this point in our national history and democratic journey, we have to put partisan politics aside and work collectively to amend the relevant sections of our constitution to rescue the local government system from the grips of our governors.

“I must commend the laudable effort of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for taking the lead in this respect by ensuring financial autonomy for the local governments across the country.

“We must do likewise to enthrone democratic principles at the local government level by ensuring that a credible agency, possibly INEC, is charged with conducting local government elections across the country to guarantee our people’s participation in democratic governance,” he said.

Senator Dafinone criticized last Saturday’s local government election in Delta State, where the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) won all the contested chairmanship positions, calling it a complete sham and a mockery of democracy.