The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has asserted that the commission is capable of managing local government elections if assigned the task.
He stated this on Thursday when he appeared before the joint Senate and House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters regarding preparations for the upcoming governorship elections in Edo and Ondo States.
Prof. Mahmood Yakubu pointed out that the Commission had been conducting area council elections in the Federal Capital Territory, which have been free from the problems associated with local government elections.
He also explained that some advantages of INEC handling elections include regular elections as scheduled, stability of tenure, and the absence of caretaker committees in the FCT.
The INEC Chairman noted that no political party has ever won all the seats in the elections, as is common in some states, saying that if INEC handles the elections, it would be better for democracy.
Bashir M