Contrary to insinuations in some quarters, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared that the tenure of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council chairmen ends in 2026 as against 2025 being peddled around.
The electoral body said while it was aware of its responsibilities under the law, especially as regards Section 28(1) of the Electoral Act 2022, which requires the Commission to release the Timetable and Schedule of Activities 360 days (i.e. One year) before the date fixed for the election, It cannot be released two years ahead of elections.
INEC National Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu made this known on Friday in Abuja during a meeting with the national leadership of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) led by Yusuf Mohammed Dantalle.
He disclosed that the Commission had earlier received inquiries from some law firms, an individual, a political party and one FCT Chairmanship Aspirants’ Forum.
The chairman stressed that all the inquiries relate to the tenure of the Area Councils and a demand for the Commission to release the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the Area Council elections.
Yakubu noted that their inquiries were based on the provision of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) which was the subsisting law at the time elections to the Area Councils were held on Saturday 12th February 2022.
His words: “The Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) provides for a three-year tenure for Chairmen and Councillors which, in their opinion, expires next year.
“However, Nigerians are aware that the National Assembly has since repealed and re-enacted the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) as the Electoral Act 2022.
“In particular, in the exercise of its powers as the law-making body for the FCT, the National Assembly extended the tenure of the Area Councils from three to four years, thereby aligning it with executive and legislative elections nationwide.
“This is one of the important provisions of the Electoral Act 2022. The Act came into force on Friday 25th February 2022, two weeks after the last Area Council elections in the FCT.
“By the time the elected Chairmen and Councilors were sworn-in four months later on 14th June 2022, they took their oath of allegiance and oath of office on the basis of the new electoral Act (i.e. the Electoral Act 2022) which provides for a four-year tenure. Consequently, their tenure therefore expires in June 2026.”
“I wish to reassure you that we are aware of our responsibilities under the law. Section 28(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 requires the Commission to release the Timetable and Schedule of Activities 360 days (i.e. One year) before the date fixed for the election. It cannot be released two years ahead of elections.
“At the appropriate time, the Commission will release the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the election.”