The Chairman of the Commission, Mahmood Yakubu, made the clarification at a meeting with the Inter Party Advisory Council ,IPAC, in Abuja, following the agitation for the conduct of fresh elections in the FCT.
According to the INEC Chairman, the tenure of office of the elected officers begins on the date of taking the oath of office, not the date of conduct of the election.
He explained that the National Assembly has since repealed and re-enacted the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) which provided for a three-year tenure for Chairmen and Councillors as the Electoral Act 2022.
He further explained that in the case of the FCT, Section 108(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 under which the current Chairmen and Councillors were sworn-in on 14th June 2022, is clear and therefore unambiguous.
Yakubu noted that there are several judicial authorities, including the judgement of the Supreme Court, that tenure begins from the date of oath of office and not the date of the election.
uires 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 the elections.
The INEC Chairman appealed to all persons with the ambition to contest for the positions of Chairmen and Councillors in the FCT to be guided by the provisions of the law and judicial pronouncements on the issue of tenure.
He also appealed to political parties to enlighten their members accordingly, adding that at the appropriate time, the Commission will release the timetable and schedule of activities for the election.