NewStats: 3,262,373 , 8,176,960 topics. Date: Monday, 02 June 2025 at 04:09 AM 3o3b8

The House of Representatives has ed for second reading, a Bill for an Act to alter the Constitution to establish the National Local Government Electoral Commission, as an independent body responsible for organising, conducting, and supervising elections into the offices of chairmen, vice chairmen and councilors of all the Local Government Councils across the Federation.

The proposed legislation sponsored by Benjamin Kalu, the deputy speaker and eight other lawmakers scaled second reading but without a debate during plenary on Tuesday.

Mahmoud Yakubu, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had told lawmakers in 2024 that the electoral body has the capacity to conduct the local government elections in the country.

However the Sponsor and Co-sponsors of the bill argued that the Commission, when established, will ensure the credibility, transparency, and fairness of local government elections and promote democratic governance at the grassroots level.

The bill’s draft states that the National Local Government Electoral Commission shall consist of Chairman and 37 other representing 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

It also states that the Chairman, who shall be the Chief Electoral Officer, and of the Board shall be appointed by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, on the recommendation of the National Council of States and subject to the confirmation of the Senate.

The Commission is expected to provide periodic reports on its activities and the outcomes of local government elections to the President, the National Assembly, and the general public, thereby promoting transparency and ability in its operations.

“Alteration of the Constitution Cap C23 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004. The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Cap C.23 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 (in this Bill referred to as the ‘Principal Act’) is altered as set out in this Bill. Alteration of section 153 of the Principal Act.

“The Commission shall be responsible for: (a) organising, conducting, and supervising elections into the offices of Chairmen and Councilors of all Local Governments in the Federation, including the Area Councils of the Federal Capital Territory; (b) setting the election timetable, managing polling processes, and ensuring compliance with electoral laws; (c) overseeing the registration of voters for local government elections, maintain an accurate and up-to-date voter , and ensure that eligible citizens are provided with access to participate in the electoral process.

“(d) Regulating and monitoring the activities of political parties, candidates, and other stakeholders during local government elections to ensure compliance with campaign finance laws, electoral codes of conduct, and other relevant regulations; (e) deg and implementing voter education programmes to inform and sensitise the public about the importance of local government elections, their roles and responsibilities as voters, and the electoral process, fostering active participation and reducing voter apathy; and (f) carrying out other responsibilities as may be assigned to the Commission in an Act of the National Assembly.

“The Secretary of the Board of the National Local Government Electoral Commission shall be appointed by the President on the recommendation of the Board of National Local Government Electoral Commission who shall be a legal practitioner of not less than 10 years”, Hon. Ihonvbere said in his lead debate.

Also at the plenary, the Lawmakers ed through second reading, a Bill for an Act to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, to specify the time within which the executive shall present to the National Assembly, any Treaty between the Federation and any other country for enactment.

The proposed legislation also sponsored by the deputy speaker states that any such treaty shall be presented to the National Assembly for enactment not later than 180 days thereafter.

https://businessday.ng/news/article/bill-to-establish-independent-body-to-conduct-lg-elections-scale-second-reading/?amp

Tinubu will be the most powerful President with the most legacy in history. Nigeria gradually embracing true federalism.

Atuero:


Wetin concern Tinubu with Legislative activities?

This is another avenue for the president to start dictating who and who becomes LG chairman and councillors

zero8zero:

Nothing concern Tinubu, na ya papa go sign the bill into law, illiterate.

Jagaban..

A man inside man..

So tinubu can buy them over ...

Bookhub:
So tinubu can buy them over ...

Ipob yesterday; there's no LG elections, Governors are the ones deciding the results. We need to stop the Governors from influencing LG elections.

Ipob today; Tinubu wants to buy LG Chairmen over.

Me; ipob are confused.

I will be so happy if this bill goes through

zero8zero:

Ipob yesterday; there's no LG elections, Governors are the ones deciding the results. We need to stop the Governors from influencing LG elections.

Ipob today; Tinubu wants to buy LG Chairmen over.

Me; ipob are confused.

A lot of IPOBdients don't want the country to prosper because their candidate lost the presidential election

Federal power

Very good

Good.

State police bill should be ed too .

People like you deserves every bad governance on earth

Bookhub:
So tinubu can buy them over ...

Electoral reform first before any other thing.
The process matters a lot. Imagine

Transparency is setting in small small in that area.

bysylomo:
Is the load too much for inec

Those ones that are yet to perfect the elections within their purview, are the ones you are depending on to oversee elections in 774 LGAs? 😅

What happened to the SIECs Aren't they independent enough? Can't we change the funding?

The speed at which the National Assembly es some bills at speed and some other ones are slow show you what is most important to them. POLITICS

bysylomo:
Is the load too much for inec

The bill’s draft states that the National Local Government Electoral Commission shall consist of Chairman and 37 other representing 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

Try dey read, abeg.

Bookhub:
So tinubu can buy them over ...

You must be Igbo and I don't mean it in a bad way.

Personally I think INEC should be able to do it.

Very good, and after that, they should also a bill for the FG to take over all pry schools across the country since we now want to render the local and state govts jobless.

We need electronic voting and INEC without presidential appointment

zero8zero:
Tinubu will be the most powerful President with the most legacy in history. Nigeria gradually embracing true federalism.

Wetin concern Tinubu with Legislative activities?

This is another avenue for the president to start dictating who and who becomes LG chairman and councillors

You talk as if PBAT is a lifetime president when he is only there for maximum 8 years.

Bookhub:
So tinubu can buy them over ...

Good one here

Independent electoral body whose head would be picked by tilumbu

All this na bobo

It is better if INEC is elected by umunna village council make una make it make sense.

PrivateSeal:
We need electronic voting and INEC without presidential appointment

Aonkuuse:
People like you deserves every bad governance on earth

You're either brainwashed or pretending to be stupid! The power to control local government will only be transferred to the federal! The person you quoted is right!

zero8zero:
Tinubu will be the most powerful President with the most legacy in history. Nigeria gradually embracing true federalism.

This is not looking like true federalism if the centre conducts LG elections. It became necessary now because the states and the Governors have proven not to be democrats.

With FG now in charge, it will be like back to the IBB era and independent be brought from outside the state to conduct the election.

It should be handled by INEC. No new electoral body is required to avoid wastage. INEC already has the database, resources and leverage a new electoral body will take years to acquire.

How is Tinubu involved in this?

I do hope this bill would see the light of the day.

You are the one that is very stupid...... What are the states doing with the local government? It's better the LGA be controlled by the FG than the states.... How many of the 36 states have given full autonomy to the LGAs? And you love it to remain like that? At least an election will be conducted at the LGA level than governors using the office to settle political thugs... The way you people reason ennn, I don't know how hatred and bitterness have taken over una brains

Sermwell:

You're either brainwashed or pretending to be stupid! The power to control local government will only be transferred to the federal! The person you quoted is right!