Mahmood Yakubu, the Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), says the Commission is ready to conduct the local government elections if granted legal backing.
Yakubu, disclosed this when he appeared before the National Assembly Joint Committee on Electoral Matters on Thursday.
He said the Commission has a convincing record that shows it can conduct the local government election.
“So if this responsibility for the conduct of local government elections is transferred to INEC, can INEC cope? The answer is yes, INEC can cope. What are we? By definition, INEC is the Independent National Electoral Commission.
“Our track report actually proves that we can do it,” Yakubu said.
The Supreme Court, in a judgement, recently affirmed the financial autonomy of Nigeria’s 774 local governments.
All 36 states have independent election commissions that organise local government elections.
However, elections for the area councils in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are conducted by the INEC.
Yakubu said the Commission would conduct the local government election across the country since it had successfully conducted area council elections for the FCT.
