The House of Representatives has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to relocate all local government offices outside the premises of Nigeria’s 774 parliamentary headquarters to neutral locations.
Naija News reports that most INEC offices at the local government level are located in parliamentary secretariats.
However, the House said the situation would leave INEC living in the straitjacket of the council president, especially when a single political party rules in the affected states.
The lawmaker’s order comes after a motion sponsored by the lawmaker representing Enugu East/Isi-Uzo Federal Constituency, Prof. Paul Namuchi, on Wednesday, “Urgent need to relocate INEC local government offices to a neutral venue”. This was after it was adopted unanimously.
In his argument in support of the motion, Mr. Nnamuchi cited Article 157 of the 1999 Constitution, which he said guarantees INEC unimpeded autonomy and independence to conduct national elections. He said there was.
Labor MPs argued that currently the majority of INEC’s local government offices are located within local government headquarters, which could impede and infringe on INEC’s independence in conducting elections.
“This proximity exposes INEC to undue interference by interest groups, especially in areas dominated by a single political party, which impedes INEC’s impartiality as enshrined in Article 6 of the 2022 Election Law Amendment.” argued Nnamchi.
Mr. Nnamuchi, who is also the Chairman of the House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Friendship League of Island States of Nigeria and the Vice-Chairman of the South East Development Committee, further stressed that the relocation was necessary to maintain public trust and confidence in the electoral process.
After fully considering the motion and arguments advanced by Mr. Nnamuchi, the House called on INEC to ensure that the 2025 budget includes budgetary provisions to begin the relocation process.
The House likewise directed the Electoral Reforms Committee to work with INEC and other relevant stakeholders to ensure compliance and report back to the House within four weeks.
