'Seun Ibukun-Oni, Abuja
DAILY COURIER - Chris Isiguzo, National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), has emphasized the importance of granting the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) the authority to conduct local government elections. This call comes in light of the recent Supreme Court judgment granting full autonomy to local governments.
This call was made at the INEC Quarterly Consultative Meeting with the Media on July 31, 2024 at the commission's headquarters in Abuja. Isiguzo highlighted that for local government autonomy to be truly effective, constitutional amendments by the National Assembly are necessary. He argued that extending INEC’s authority to include local government elections would ensure uniformity, credibility, and efficiency in the electoral process. He criticized the proposal for an Independent Local Government Electoral Commission as unnecessary, potentially leading to redundancy and increased bureaucracy.
"I would also like to take this opportunity to weigh in on a significant recent development – the Supreme Court judgment which granted full autonomy to local government administrations. This landmark ruling is a major stride towards strengthening our democracy at the grassroots level. Local governments are the closest tier of government to the people, and their autonomy is crucial for effective governance and development.
"However, for this autonomy to be truly conclusive and impactful, there is a need for constitutional amendments by the National Assembly. Specifically, the relevant sections of the constitution should be amended to empower INEC to conduct elections for local governments across the country. Currently, INEC enjoys constitutional authority to conduct national and sub-national elections. Extending this authority to include the third tier of government will ensure uniformity, credibility, and efficiency in the electoral process.
"In light of this, the proposal to create an Independent Local Government Electoral Commission is, in my view, unnecessary. Establishing a separate body for local government elections could lead to redundancy, increased bureaucracy, and potential conflicts of interest. Instead, leveraging INEC’s established framework, experience, and resources would be a more efficient and effective approach to managing local government elections" he stressed.
He praised INEC’s consistent efforts to engage with the media, acknowledging the commission’s commitment to transparency and accountability. He underscored the media’s role as a bridge between INEC and the public, ensuring the dissemination of accurate information and transparency in electoral processes.
The meeting also focused on the upcoming off-season gubernatorial elections in Edo and Ondo states. Isiguzo called on journalists interested in covering the Edo election to register on the dedicated INEC portal to ensure timely production of accreditation tags. He appealed to security agencies to support and protect journalists during election duties, highlighting the indispensable role of the media in reporting accurately and objectively.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, echoed the importance of media participation in the electoral process. He provided updates on preparations for the Edo State Governorship election, scheduled for September 21, 2024, and urged media organizations to expedite their registration on the portal for media accreditation.
The INEC chairman said: "As the Edo State Governorship approaches, I wish to remind media organisations that the portal for media accreditation (https://imap.inecnigeria.org) is still open. As at 8.02am today, Wednesday 31st July 2024, 24 media organisations representing print, radio, television and online have uploaded the details of 227 personnel for the election. I urge you to expedite action by ensuring that all interested media organisations submit their applications before the deadline of Thursday 5th September 2024. This will enable the Commission to produce and deliver the accreditation tags for your reporters, camera operators, technical and other support staff in good time for the election."
Yakubu reassured attendees that INEC had recovered from recent flooding at its Edo State headquarters and had taken steps to ensure smooth election operations. He emphasized the importance of factual and accurate reporting by journalists, urging compliance with the Nigerian Media Code of Election Coverage and INEC guidelines.
The consultative meeting concluded with Yakubu addressing upcoming bye-elections and the importance of security and transparency in the electoral process. He affirmed INEC’s dedication to free, fair, and credible elections and thanked the media for their continued support.
This call for constitutional amendments to empower INEC to conduct local government elections marks a significant step towards strengthening democracy at the grassroots level, ensuring effective governance and development across Nigeria.
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