LG Polls: Separate Election Body’ll Create Unnecessary Bureaucracy -NUJ

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has said  establishing a separate body for local government elections could lead to redundancy, increased bureaucracy, and potential conflicts of interest.
President of the union, Comrade Chris Isiguzo, said this at the  INEC Quarterly Consultative Meeting with media executives on Wednesday, July 31, 2024, at the INEC headquarters, Abuja.
Comrade Isiguzo opined that the proposal by government to create an Independent Local Government Electoral Commission was unnecessary. Instead, leveraging INEC’s established framework, experience, and resources would be a more efficient and effective approach to managing local government elections.
He applauded the Supreme Court judgment which granted full autonomy to local government administrations, noting that the landmark ruling is a major stride towards strengthening democracy at the grassroots level.
He however proposed that for this autonomy to be truly conclusive and impactful, there was a need for constitutional amendments by the National Assembly.
Comrade Isiguzo said INEC enjoys constitutional authority to conduct national and sub-national elections and extending this authority to include the third tier of government will ensure uniformity, credibility, and efficiency in the electoral process.
He stressed that the importance of engaging with the media, especially in the context of elections, cannot be overemphasized, adding that the media serves as the bridge between the electoral commission and the citizens.
“This synergy between INEC and the media is crucial as we approach the off-season gubernatorial elections in Edo and Ondo states”, he said.
“The transparency and efficiency with which elections are conducted directly influence the public’s confidence in our democratic processes. I am confident that INEC is leaving no stone unturned to ensure that these elections are free, fair, and credible”, he said.
Nigeria Union of Journalists, I reaffirm our commitment to supporting INEC in its mission to uphold the integrity of elections in Nigeria. Together, we can foster a democratic environment that is open, accountable, and reflective of the will of the people.”
Earlier in his remarks the INEC Chairman,  Prof Mahmood Yakubu reminded media organisations that the portal for media accreditation (https://imap.inecnigeria.org) was still open.