INEC Will ‘Examine’ Option to Take Over Local Govt Polls Despite Increased Burden – Amupitan Tells Senate

Professor Joash Amupitan, a nominee for the position of Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has assured the Senate that the electoral body will seriously consider the widespread calls for it to assume responsibility for conducting Local Government (LG) elections across the nation.

Dependable NG reports that the nominee spoke on the issue while being screened by the Senate on Thursday, acknowledging the contentious nature of the current system where state-level bodies manage the polls. Amupitan conceded that the push for INEC to take over “has been debated widely,” noting that “the view of many people is that it should be transferred to INEC because of what is happening in LGs.”

However, Professor Amupitan, who was nominated by President Bola Tinubu, expressed concern that the mandate could present a significant operational challenge. He lamented that taking over LG elections would “constitute more burden for INEC.”

Addressing the senators in the red chamber, he posed a rhetorical question: “But is it not going to add another burden on INEC if we are to conduct elections in over 700 LGs?” While emphasizing the complexity of the matter, he promised that due to the extensive public debate on the issue, the option will be thoroughly reviewed. “Because it has been long debated, we will look at it but it is not something I have answers to for now,” he concluded.