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The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu has emphasized the need to relocate the remaining Fifty-Nine (59) INEC Local Government offices currently housed within the Local Government Secretariats to independent locations.
Addressing the House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters at the National Assembly Complex on Thursday, 21st November 2024, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu outlined the historical and operational challenges associated with the current office arrangements.
In his presentation, Prof. Yakubu explained that INEC’s presence within Local Government Secretariats originated during Nigeria’s transition from military to democratic governance. At the time, state military governors were responsible for providing office accommodation for the Commission. While this arrangement sufficed during the transition period, it has since proven problematic in certain situations; particularly during elections.
“These offices are not just administrative buildings, they are electoral facilities where we conduct voter registration and collate Local Government election results; sharing the same entrance with Local Government Secretariats has led to instances where opposition members were obstructed during collation processes. To safeguard transparency, we have been systematically relocating these offices or creating separate entrances where relocation is not immediately feasible.” He said.
Progress and Challenges
Prof. Yakubu revealed that INEC has successfully relocated 715 out of its 774 Local Government offices, representing 92.4% of the total while Fifty-Nine (59) offices representing 7.6%, are still situated within secretariats. Notably, a large proportion of these offices are in the Southeast (47.5%), followed by the South-South (27.1%) and the Southwest (20.3%). In contrast, the Northeast has fully transitioned while the North Central and the Northwest have only one and two offices remaining respectively.
“The relocation process faces two main challenges: availability of land and budgetary constraints,” the INEC Chairman explained. “In many northern states, land is more accessible, facilitating relocations. However, in areas like Lagos and the Southeast, land scarcity and high costs pose significant obstacles.”
He also highlighted the financial burden of maintaining INEC’s vast infrastructure which includes over Eight Hundred and Sixty (860) buildings nationwide, encompassing Local Government offices, State offices, the Headquarters and other facilities. He noted that funding needed for maintenance and construction primarily comes from the electoral budget allocated every four (4) years. To address this challenge, Prof. Yakubu urged the committee to consider yearly budgetary provisions for the maintenance and relocation of these facilities.
Call for Legislative Support.
The INEC Chairman sought the lawmakers’ support to accelerate the relocation process and ensure ongoing maintenance of electoral facilities continues uninterrupted. “Our suggestion is for this honorable committee to consider consistent budgetary provisions in the regular annual budget. This will ensure we can maintain and upgrade facilities without waiting for election years,” he stated.
Prof. Yakubu reiterated the Commission’s commitment to relocating the remaining offices and improving electoral infrastructure. “We are ahead of schedule, but we need sustained support to complete this task and ensure a transparent and accessible electoral process,”
Lawmakers expressed their support for INEC’s efforts, with members emphasizing the importance of upholding neutrality in the electoral process. In his words “INEC’s facilities must reflect its independence to build public confidence in elections,” according to a committee member. “This is essential to fostering good governance and democratic credibility.”
The briefing underscored the critical role of infrastructural independence in achieving credible elections and maintaining public trust in Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
INEC PRESENTS CERTIFICATES OF RETURN TO ONDO GOVERNOR-ELECT AND DEPUTY GOVERNOR-ELECT
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Wednesday, 20th November 2024 issued Certificates of Return to the Governor-elect and Deputy Governor-elect of Ondo State marking the conclusion of the recent Governorship election.
The ceremony, which was held at the INEC Headquarters in Maitama, Abuja was presided over by the Supervising Hon. National Commissioner for Ondo State, Prof. Kunle Ajayi.
In his opening remarks, Prof. Ajayi described the election as a significant milestone in the democratic journey of Ondo State. He commended the people of the State for their peaceful conduct during the election while noting that the electoral process genuinely reflected their collective will.
“This ceremony marks the culmination of a democratic process that reflects the will and aspirations of the good people of Ondo State, the voters’ attitude were generally impressive and there was no major electoral violence recorded.” Prof. Ajayi stated.
He reaffirmed INEC’s commitment to conducting free, fair, credible and inclusive elections, noting that the Ondo State Governorship election was a testament to this commitment. The National Commissioner lauded the leadership of INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu for steering the Commission towards excellence in election management through meticulous planning and the deployment of technology in achieving this success. “Our core values of independence, impartiality, neutrality and transparency remain the bedrock of our operations,” he added.
Prof. Kunle Ajayi expressed his gratitude to the key stakeholders who played pivotal roles in the success of the election. He commended the voters for exercising their franchise, political parties and candidates for upholding democratic principles, security agencies for ensuring a peaceful environment, election observers and the media for promoting transparency and boosting confidence in the process.
Highlighting the significance of the Certificates of Return, Prof. Ajayi described them as more than a ceremonial act. “The issuance of Certificates of Return is a constitutional obligation under Section 72, Subsection 1 of the Electoral Act. It symbolizes the official acknowledgment of the mandate conferred by the people of Ondo State on 16th November 2024,” he explained.
He urged the Governor-elect and Deputy Governor-elect to honor the trust bestowed upon them by the electorate and to work tirelessly to deliver effective and responsible governance.
The Governor-elect who is also the current Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa commended INEC and security agencies for conducting one of the most peaceful elections in history.
He assured the good people of Ondo State that he would serve them better.
