The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu, has declared that the electoral umpire is capable of successfully conducting LG elections if saddled with the responsibility by law.
The commission Boss made this known when he appeared before a Joint National Assembly Committee on Electoral Matters to present the Ondo and Edo off-cycle elections budget.
Mahmood said that the commission can conduct local government elections if the responsibility falls on it.
INEC chief also expressed fresh fears over the upcoming off-cycle elections in Edo and Ondo States.
He particularly noted that apart from a strain on state facilities, there is also the issue of governors using power of incumbency to the detriment of other opposition parties and their candidates.
Speaking specifically on Edo, Mahmood noted that despite the challenge of flooding, there is also the issue of security.
Again, Mahmood appealed to the lawmakers to speedily pass the Electoral Offenders Bill under the current Assembly to empower the commission with the capacity and resources to effect arrests, thoroughly investigate electoral offences and mitigate electoral malfeasance.
Prof. Mahmood Yakubu-INEC Chairman
Source: Swifteradio.com
