The House of Representatives has passed a resolution urging the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to move its local government offices to “secure and neutral” locations, following years of targeted attacks on its offices across the country.
The decision came during Wednesday’s plenary, where the motion was sponsored by Sunday Nnamchi, a representative from Enugu state.
Nnamchi highlighted concerns over the current locations of many INEC offices, which are often situated within the premises of local government headquarters. He argued that this setup risks compromising INEC’s independence, particularly in areas dominated by a single political party.
“This proximity exposes INEC to manipulation by council chairmen, potentially hampering the commission’s impartiality,” he stated. “To maintain public trust in the electoral process, there is a need to reinforce INEC’s autonomy as provided in section 6 of the Electoral Act 2022.”
The motion passed without debate, with a unanimous “ayes” vote from the chamber after Speaker Tajudeen Abbas put it forward. Consequently, the House has asked INEC to include provisions in the 2025 budget proposal to support the relocation of its offices. Relevant House committees have also been mandated to ensure compliance and to report on the progress within four weeks for further legislative action.
