In major blow to state govs, INEC to conduct LG polls, Senate votes

The Senate on Tuesday voted in support of alteration to the 1999 Constitution that will allow the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) conduct local government elections across the country.

At present, different states of the country constitute electoral commissions that conduct local government polls. But by this vote, the Senate has effectively stripped state governments of this power.

The alteration was part of constitutional reforms by the legislature for the autonomy of local governments and was added as the 33rd item of the report the Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu-led I999 Constitution amendment committee presented at the plenary to the lawmakers on Tuesday.

Read also: No cheer for N’Delta as NASS chickens out of Fiscal Federalism

Initially, the report had 32 items, including autonomy for local government areas.

However, Senator Dino Melaye argued that autonomy for local governments will be ineffective if states continue to oversee conduct of local government elections.
Melaye therefore moved that INEC conduct the local elections going forward.

The motion when put to voice vote by Senate President Bukola Saraki, had those in support of it in the majority and was adopted.

By Ebere Ndukwu …

 

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