The House of Representatives has passed for second reading a bill seeking to amend the Nigerian Constitution and establish the National Local Government Electoral Commission (NLGEC). This proposed commission would take over the responsibility for organizing, conducting, and supervising elections into the offices of local government chairmen, vice chairmen, and councilors across the country.
The bill, which was introduced by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu and eight other lawmakers, passed through the second reading on Tuesday without any debate during plenary. If passed into law, the NLGEC would be an independent body dedicated solely to managing local government elections, marking a significant shift in how elections at the grassroots level are handled in Nigeria.
Currently, local government elections in Nigeria are overseen by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the body responsible for conducting national and state elections. However, INEC Chairman Mahmoud Yakubu stated in 2024 that the electoral body has the capacity to manage local government elections as well. Despite this, lawmakers pushing the new bill argue that creating a separate commission would lead to more credible, transparent, and fair elections at the local government level.
The bill aims to address the challenges that local government elections have faced in Nigeria, which have often been marred by allegations of rigging, manipulation, and a lack of transparency. By establishing the NLGEC, supporters believe the process would be more independent and accountable to the people, ensuring that local government elections are conducted fairly and without political interference.
According to the draft of the bill, the NLGEC would be responsible for conducting and supervising elections for local government chairmen, vice chairmen, and councilors in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. The commission would consist of a chairman and 37 other members, each representing one of the states and the FCT.
The chairman, who would also serve as the Chief Electoral Officer, would be appointed by the Nigerian president on the recommendation of the National Council of States and subject to Senate confirmation. The NLGEC would operate as an independent body, reporting directly to the president and the National Assembly to ensure transparency and accountability in its operations.
- Organizing Local Government Elections: The commission would handle the entire process of local government elections, from setting election timetables to managing the polling process, ensuring compliance with electoral laws, and overseeing the registration of voters.
- Voter Education: The commission would be responsible for running voter education programs to inform the public about the importance of local government elections, encouraging active participation and reducing voter apathy.
- Regulating Political Parties and Candidates: It would monitor and regulate political parties, candidates, and stakeholders to ensure compliance with campaign finance laws, electoral codes of conduct, and other relevant regulations during local government elections.
- Election Transparency: The NLGEC would be required to provide periodic reports on its activities and the outcomes of local government elections, thus promoting transparency in its operations.
- Legal Oversight: The bill also stipulates that the secretary of the NLGEC board would be appointed by the president, following the recommendation of the commission’s board. The secretary must be a legal practitioner with at least 10 years of experience.
In his lead debate, Hon. Ihonvbere, one of the bill’s co-sponsors, explained that the creation of the NLGEC would ensure that local government elections are free from political manipulation and that the process is fair and transparent. The goal is to strengthen democracy at the grassroots level, where local governments play a critical role in providing essential services to communities across Nigeria.
The bill outlines that the president would appoint the chairman and members of the NLGEC, but only after receiving recommendations from the National Council of States. This process would ensure that the commission’s leadership is independent of political pressure and has the necessary qualifications to carry out its duties effectively. The appointment would also be subject to confirmation by the Senate.
Supporters of the bill argue that this structure would protect the commission’s autonomy and help build public trust in the electoral process, particularly at the local government level, where elections have often been characterized by irregularities and low voter turnout.
The proposed bill has raised important questions about the role of INEC in overseeing local government elections. While INEC has successfully managed national and state elections, some lawmakers argue that a separate body would be better suited to handle the specific challenges of local government elections.
In contrast, INEC Chairman Mahmoud Yakubu has argued that the electoral body has the capacity to conduct local government elections effectively. He pointed out that INEC has the experience, infrastructure, and resources to carry out elections at all levels of government, and that creating a separate body might lead to unnecessary duplication of efforts and waste of resources.
Nevertheless, the push for the NLGEC highlights the ongoing debate about electoral reforms in Nigeria and the need for a system that guarantees free, fair, and transparent elections at all levels of government, particularly in local governance, which directly impacts the daily lives of citizens.
In addition to the NLGEC bill, the House of Representatives also passed a second bill for second reading on Tuesday. This bill seeks to amend the 1999 Nigerian Constitution to specify a time limit for the presentation of treaties between Nigeria and other countries to the National Assembly for enactment.
Under the proposed legislation, any treaty between Nigeria and another country must be presented to the National Assembly for enactment within 180 days. This bill is aimed at ensuring that international agreements are subject to timely review and approval by the legislative body, thereby promoting transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s foreign relations.
