SENATOR BUHARI ADVOCATES FOR INEC TO CONDUCT LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS
Senator Buhari Abdulfatai has advocated for the conduct of Local Government Elections by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
He stated on Friday 1st December, 2023 on the floor of the Nigerian Senate while contributing to a motion on the Urgent Need to Halt Erosion of Democracy vis a vis the dissolution of elected councils in Benue State sponsored by Senator Abba Moro.
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Aviation and Aerospace Development noted that in order to strengthen democracy in the country, the present Electoral Act and 1999 Constitution must be amended to give INEC legal backing to conduct Local Government elections.
“Mr President, Distinguished Colleagues, once we take Local Government elections to INEC to conduct, the hands of Governors would be tight because it won’t be a kangaroo election again where Governors would just sit down with two or three people and write results. It is probably one of the reasons when allocation (money) is sent to Local Government, it is the Governors that dictate and determine the projects they (LG Chairmen) do but if INEC takes over the conduct of elections, it would greatly help our democracy. ” He explained.
Senator Buhari concluded that it is unjustifiable where a Senator or House of Reps member won his/her election during general elections but couldn’t win his LG and ward during Local Government elections conducted by states’ electoral umpires.
