The House of Representatives has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to move its local government offices to neutral, secure locations in order to preserve the commission’s integrity.
This request emerged from a motion presented by Prof. Paul Nnamchi (LP-Enugu) during Wednesday’s plenary session. Nnamchi referred to Section 157 of the Constitution, which guarantees INEC’s autonomy and independence in overseeing national elections.
He stressed that INEC’s duty is to conduct free, fair, and credible elections across Nigeria, as mandated by law.
However, he raised concerns about the location of most INEC offices within local government headquarters.
“This is potentially hampering and compromising the independence of INEC in the conduct of national elections. This proximity exposes INEC to manipulation and control by council Chairmen, particularly in areas dominated by a single political party. This impedes INEC’s impartiality as enshrined in Section 6 of the Electoral Act (2022). Hence, the need to maintain public trust and confidence in the electoral processes,” he stated.
Responding, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas instructed the Committee on INEC and relevant stakeholders to ensure compliance with the motion and report back to the House for further legislative action.
