News
INEC Capable Of Conducting LG Elections -Chairman
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu, has affirmed that the electoral body can conduct local government elections in the country if provided with the necessary resources.
He made this statement, yesterday, when he appeared before the National Assembly Joint Committee on INEC and Electoral Committees.
Responding to a question from members of the National Assembly joint panel on the commission’s stance regarding the Supreme Court verdict on financial autonomy for Local Government, Yakubu acknowledged calls for the unbundling of INEC or the creation of a new federal agency for conducting council polls.
However, he asserted that INEC, under his leadership, possesses the capacity, competence, human resources, and experience needed to conduct local government elections across Nigeria’s 774 councils.
He supported his position by citing the commission’s successes in the six Federal Capital Territory Area Councils and its frequent off-season and bye-elections.
Yakubu emphasised that INEC’s consistent conduct of federal and state elections is proof of its capability to manage council polls.
Yakubu stated, “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. Right now, we do national elections, state elections, and local government elections.”
He elaborated, “A national electoral commission may be expected to implement only the presidential and National Assembly elections.
“We also conduct governorship elections, state assembly elections, and area council elections in the Federal Capital Territory. Our track record proves that we can do it. In the Federal Capital Territory, there are six area councils, 62 wards, and councillorship elections.
“This is one part of the country where INEC has conducted local government elections regularly, without caretaker committees, ensuring stability and security of tenure. The recent amendment of the Electoral Act provides a four-year tenure for area councils in the FCT.”
Yakubu noted that no single political party has won all the constituencies in the FCT, with the six chairmen evenly split between the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party.
He highlighted that the FCT councils comprise urban and rural communities, demonstrating INEC’s adequate experience in conducting elections nationwide.
He further stated, “So in terms of capacity to do it, we can do it, we have been doing it in the Federal Capital Territory.
“However, if the National Assembly decides to amend the constitution, we need to engage with the National Assembly for certain amendments to handle additional responsibilities. For instance, will the Federal Government fund the elections for state and local governments?
“Alternatively, there is a proposition for a new federal electoral commission for local government elections.
“Some argue against state electoral commissions conducting local government elections in the spirit of federalism but should improve their conduct.”
Yakubu reminded Nigerians that the current Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria creates both INEC and state-independent electoral commissions, thus, it is up to the National Assembly to amend the law to transfer that responsibility to INEC.
He reaffirmed, “If that is done, can INEC cope? Yes, we can.”
He mentioned that INEC should not be unbundled beyond its electoral activities, suggesting that some responsibilities could be handled by other agencies, a point made by various committees since 2008, including the Justice Mohammed Uwais Commission.
Yakubu assured the joint panel that the commission had made adequate arrangements for the two off-cycle elections in Edo and Ondo States.
He also noted that INEC had prepared budgets for outstanding by-elections in seven federal and state legislative constituencies.
Additionally, he explained that the agency’s 2024 Budget is being adequately funded by the Ministry of Finance, with monthly releases of N23.3bn out of the N40bn appropriated for the year.
The Tide recalls that the December 5, 1998, local government elections were conducted by INEC.
News
I’m Committed To Community Dev – Ajinwo
News
RSG Tasks Rural Dwellers On RAAMP …As Sensitization Team Visits Akulga, Degema, Three Others

Rivers State Head of Service, Dr (Mrs) Inyingi Brown, has called on rural communities in the State to embrace the Rural Access and Agricultural marketing project (RAAMP) with a view to improving their living conditions.
This follows the ongoing sensitization campaign by the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) visits to Degema, Abonnema, Afam headquarters of Degema, Akuku Toru and Oyigbo Etche and Omuma local government areas respectively.
Dr Brown who was represented by the Deputy Director, Special Duties in her office, Mrs Dein Akpanah, said RAAMP was initiated by the Federal Government and World Bank to economically empower rural dwellers.s
She said the World Bank understands the plights of rural farmers and traders in the State, and therefore came up with the programme to address them.
According to her, RAAMP will improve the conditions of farmers, traders and fishermen, and therefore, behoves on every rural communities in the State to embrace the programme.
The Head of Service also said the programme would support the youths to be gainfully employed while bridges and roads will be built to link farms and fishing settlements.
Also speaking, the State project coordinator, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the programme has the potential of creating millionaires among farmers and fishermen in the State.
Kpakol who was represented by Engr. Sam Tombari, said RAAMP would help farmers and fishermen to preserve their produce.
According to him, the project will build cold rooms and Silos for preservation of crops and fishes while access roads will also be created to link farmers and fishermen to the market.
He, however, warned them against any act that will lead to the suspension of the projects by the World Bank.
Kpakol particularly warned against acts such as kidnapping, marching ground, gender based violence and child labour, adding that such acts if they occur may lead to the cancellation of the project by the World Bank.
During the visit to Oyigbo local government area, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the team was there to let them know how they will benefit from the Raamp.
The coordinator who was personally at Oyigbo said the World Bank introduced the project to check food insecurity in the State.
He said already 19 states in Nigeria are already benefitting from the project and called on them to embrace the project.
Meanwhile, stakeholders in the three local government areas have commended the World Bank for including their areas in the project.
They, however, complained over the incessant attacks by pirates on their waterways.
At Degema, King Agolia of Ke kingdom said land was a major problem in the kingdom.
King Agolia represented by High Chief Alpheus Damiebi said many indigenes of the kingdom are willing to go into farming but are handicapped by lack of land.
Also at Degema, the representative of the Omu Onyam Ekeim of Usokun Degema kingdom, Osoabo Isaac, said Degema has embraced the programme but needed more information on the implementation of the programme.
Similarly, while High Chief Precious Abadi advised that the project should not be narrowed to only crop farming, a community women leader, Mrs Orikinge Eremabo Otto, called for the construction of cold rooms in all fishing settlements in the area.
At Abonnema, Mr Diamond Kio linked the problem of the area to incessant piracy along waterways.
He also expressed fears over the possibility of the project being hijacked by politicians.
Also at Abonnema, a stakeholder, Ikiriko Kelvin, called on the World Bank to design an agricultural project that will suit the riverine environment, while at Oyigbo, HRH Eze Boniface Akawo expressed satisfaction with the project.
John Bibor
News
Senate Replaces Natasha As Committee Chairman

The political mudslinging between the Senate leadership and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan continued yesterday as the Senate named Senator Aniekan Bassey as the new Chairman of the Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the appointment during yesterday’s plenary, confirming Bassey’s replacement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently on suspension.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was reassigned to the Diaspora and NGOs Committee in February after she was removed as Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content during a minor reshuffle.
Bassey is the senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District.
Although no reason was given for her removal yesterday, the change is believed to be connected to her unresolved suspension.
In May, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court ordered her reinstatement and directed her to tender an apology to the Senate.
However, the Senate has insisted it has not received a certified true copy of the court judgment.
Akpoti-Uduaghan who represents Kogi Central, has yet to resume her legislative duties despite a recent court ruling that voided her suspension.
In a televised interview on Tuesday, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment before officially returning to plenary, citing legal advice and respect for institutional process.
Although the Federal High Court described her suspension as “excessive and unconstitutional”, a legal opinion dated July 5 and attributed to the Senate’s counsel, Paul Daudu (SAN), argued that the ruling lacked any binding directive to enforce her reinstatement.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only three female senators in the current assembly, said the continued delay in allowing her return was not only a denial of her mandate but also a blow to democratic representation.
“By keeping me out of the chambers, the Senate is not just silencing Kogi Central, it’s denying Nigerian women and children representation. We are only three female senators now, down from eight,” she said.