Reps pass bills for LG electoral commission, unified Election Day

The House of Representatives Tuesday passed for second reading, a constitution alteration bill to establish the National Local Government Electoral Commission, as an independent body to organise, conduct and supervise elections into local government councils.......CONTINUE READING THE ARTICLE FROM THE SOURCE>>>>>

The House has also passed a bill to alter the constitution to provide that general elections in the country should hold simultaneously on the same day, alongside 37 other constitution alteration bills.

The proposed legislation for local government electoral body sponsored by the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, and eight others, if established will conduct elections into the offices of chairmen, vice chairmen and councilors of all the local government councils across the federation.

Majority Leader of the House, Hon. Julius Ihonvbere, in presenting its general principles said when established, the body will ensure the credibility, transparency, and fairness of local government elections and promote democratic governance at the grassroots level.

The bill’s draft states that the body shall consist of chairman and 37 other members representing 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

“The Commission is expected to provide periodic reports on its activities and the outcomes of local government elections to the President, the National Assembly, and the general public, thereby promoting transparency and accountability in its operations,” the sponsors stated.