National Assembly Orders INEC to Vacate 774 Offices, Gives Reason

• The House of Representatives has asked INEC to vacate from its current 774 local government offices located at LG secretariats
• This decision was reached by the lower chamber of the National Assembly to enhance the neutrality of the electoral body
• Professor Paul Nnamchi raised the motion during plenary on Thursday, October 31, and the parliamentarians unanimously supported it

The House of Representatives has taken a significant step towards ensuring the independence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by mandating the relocation of its local government offices from council headquarters to neutral grounds.

This decision was made to prevent undue interference from interest groups, particularly in areas dominated by a single political party.

Most INEC offices at the local government level are currently within local government headquarters, which many argue can compromise the electoral body's independence.

Read also

36 states reject Tinubu’s tax reform bill, details emerge

Professor Paul Nnamchi, the motion's sponsor, argued that this proximity hampers INEC's ability to conduct elections impartially. He cited Section 157 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees INEC's autonomy and independence to conduct national elections.

Why reps asked INEC to vacate LG secretariats

According to Vanguard, Nnamchi emphasized that relocation is necessary to maintain public trust and confidence in the electoral process. The House of Representatives unanimously adopted the motion titled 'Urgent Need To Relocate INEC Local Governments' Offices To Neutral Venues'.

It also directed INEC to make budgetary provisions in the 2025 budget to commence the relocation process.

To ensure compliance, the House Committee on Electoral Reforms has been tasked with liaising with INEC and other relevant stakeholders. The committee is expected to report back to the House within four weeks.

Read also

BREAKING: Fresh twist as NEC asks Tinubu to withdraw tax reform bills, gives reason

Political observers say the move is a significant step towards ensuring the integrity of Nigeria's electoral process. It is believed that by relocating its offices to neutral grounds, INEC can operate freely without undue influence from local government officials or dominant political parties.

Alex Ikwechegh: House of Reps take action

Legit.ng earlier reported that the House of Representatives had condemned its member caught in a viral video assaulting an e-hailing driver

Akin Rotimi Jr, the spokesperson of the House, said the national assembly takes the allegation of assault seriously and condemned the development

According to Rotimi Jr, the House is monitoring the situation and urged the public to remain calm and allow the police to do their job.

Proofreading by James, Ojo Adakole, journalist and copy editor at Legit.ng.

Source: Legit.ng