The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, has declared that conducting local government elections with just 21 days’ notice is not only illegal but also “practically impossible.”
Speaking during a courtesy visit by the Forum of State Independent Electoral Commissions of Nigeria (FOSIECON) in Abuja on Tuesday, Yakubu stressed that such short notice violates both the law and a recent Supreme Court judgment mandating a 360-day preparation period for elections.
“Recent announcements by some state electoral commissions, giving effectively 21 days’ notice, are not only a violation of the law and the subsisting judgment of the Supreme Court, but also a practical problem.
“Within 21 days, how do you expect political parties to conduct primaries, nominate candidates, organise campaigns, and for the electoral commission to conduct voter education, recruit and train ad hoc staff, manage logistics, and organise security? It is practically impossible”, Prof Yakubu said.
The INEC chairman’s remarks come weeks after the Supreme Court nullified the local government elections in Rivers State, citing procedural flaws, including inadequate notice. Yakubu urged FOSIECON, the umbrella body for state electoral commissions, to ensure compliance with statutory timelines, warning that failure to do so undermines the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral process.
Call for Improved Standards in LG Polls
Yakubu commended the fact that all states in Nigeria now have elected local government councils but expressed concern over the “quality of the elections.”
He called on state electoral bodies to emulate INEC’s handling of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections, where polls are held regularly, without caretaker committees, and with outcomes that reflect competitive politics.
“Your role is significant to credible elections in Nigeria,” he told FOSIECON delegates. “Local government elections, just like local government areas, are the foundation, not only of credible elections but also of development. I hope there will be an opportunity for us to discuss how INEC can partner with the SIECs to continue to improve the quality of these elections.”
He pointed to the FCT as a model, where elections have been held without interruption since 1991, with no single party dominating all seats. “The FCT is the only part of the country where there has never been a caretaker committee in the six area councils. Elections are conducted regularly, initially for three years, but now streamlined to four years under the amended Electoral Act. No one party has ever won all the elections,” he noted.
Supreme Court Ruling and Legal Implications
The INEC chairman referenced the Supreme Court’s recent judgment, which reinforced the necessity of proper planning for local government elections.
The ruling, which annulled the Rivers State LG polls, emphasised that elections must follow due process, including adequate notice periods.
FOSIECON Chairman, Hon. Mamman Nda Eri, acknowledged the legal challenges faced by state electoral bodies, particularly the conflict between state laws—many of which stipulate a 90-day notice—and the Supreme Court’s interpretation requiring 360 days.
“Most states have laws enacted by their Houses of Assembly stipulating a 90-day notice for elections,” Eri said. “But the Supreme Court judgment emphasised the 360-day requirement.
How do we reconcile this with our state laws? From that judgment, we learned that the procedure INEC uses for the FCT is the same expected for local government elections.”
He also raised concerns over funding, admitting that many state electoral commissions lack the financial capacity to meet the extensive logistical demands of credible elections. “Most states are not financially independent,” Eri said. “If, through knowledge sharing, INEC can support efforts to secure financial autonomy for SIECs, a lot will improve.”
Logistical and Financial Challenges
Yakubu highlighted INEC’s structured approach to elections, noting that the commission had already released the timetable for the 2026 FCT Area Council elections more than a year in advance, in compliance with the law. He contrasted this with the haphazard preparations seen in some states, where last-minute arrangements lead to disputed outcomes.
Eri agreed, stating that without proper funding and adherence to legal frameworks, state electoral commissions would continue to struggle. “The procedure is extensive and requires significant logistics,” he said. “Many states cannot meet these demands under current conditions.”
Way Forward: Collaboration and Reform
Both leaders agreed on the need for closer collaboration between INEC and state electoral bodies to enhance transparency and public trust in local government elections.
Yakubu pledged INEC’s support in areas such as technical assistance, capacity building, and knowledge sharing but insisted that SIECs must commit to legal compliance and long-term planning.
“The best cooperation between INEC and SIECs is for the SIECs to strive to conduct local government elections the way INEC does in the FCT,” Yakubu said.
Eri, in response, welcomed the partnership but reiterated the need for structural reforms, including financial independence for SIECs. “With the right support, we can deliver elections that meet democratic standards,” he said.
As the meeting concluded, it was clear that while progress had been made in ensuring elected local governments across Nigeria, significant challenges remain in guaranteeing that these elections are free, fair, and credible.
With the Supreme Court’s intervention and INEC’s push for stricter adherence to timelines, the pressure is now on state electoral bodies to reform—or risk further judicial setbacks.
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