The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has warned that the proposed August 30 local government election in Rivers State may lack credibility following the controversial guidelines released by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC).
RSIEC, in guidelines released last week, scheduled the election for August 30 and gave a rushed timetable that required political parties to sell forms, screen candidates, and conduct primaries within just one week before campaigns.
The timetable has already forced some political parties to cancel the sale of nomination forms, raising fears that key aspirants may be sidelined, and party leaders may impose candidates.
This has sparked complaints and criticism from aspirants who allege plans by party leaders to shut them out of the process.
INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, has therefore urged state independent electoral commissions (SIECs) to improve the quality and credibility of local government elections.
Speaking during a meeting with executive members of the Forum of State Independent Electoral Commissions of Nigeria (FOSIECON) in Abuja on Tuesday, Yakubu stressed that while most states now have elected local government councils, the quality of those elections remains a major concern.
He urged SIECs to adopt the FCT model as a template for free, fair, and credible local elections, noting that FCT is the only part of Nigeria where caretaker committees have never replaced elected councils.
“The best cooperation that can exist between INEC and SIECs is for SIECs to strive to conduct local government elections in the manner INEC conducts elections in the FCT,” he said.
Yakubu warned SIECs against flouting the Supreme Court’s ruling on statutory notice periods for elections.
Without naming Rivers directly, he criticised a recent instance where only 21 days’ notice was given before an LG election, calling it “unlawful” and “impractical.”
“How can political parties conduct primaries, nominate candidates, and campaign, while electoral bodies prepare logistics, train staff, and coordinate security — all within 21 days? It is practically impossible,” he said.
He urged FOSIECON to communicate to its members the importance of complying with legal and procedural requirements for credible elections.