Twist In Office: INEC Rules Local Government Chairmen Stay Until 2026, Defying Previous Election Expectations

In a significant clarification by the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu, it has been confirmed that the current tenure of local government and council chairmen will extend until June 2026, contrary to earlier expectations of a 2025 conclusion.

Yakubu emphasized that this extension is mandated by the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 (As Amended), which guarantees a four-year tenure for chairmen and councilors, aligning them with national executive and legislative election cycles. This adjustment, implemented since the Act’s enactment on February 25, 2022, extends the tenure from the previously stipulated three years under the Electoral Act 2010.

Addressing concerns during a meeting with the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in Abuja, Yakubu clarified that the tenure’s calculation hinges not on the election date but on the date of oath-taking. This legal nuance ensures that elected officials, including chairmen and councilors, will continue in their roles until mid-2026, maintaining stability and continuity in local governance across the country.

The clarification follows inquiries based on the previous Electoral Act provisions, which were superseded by the new legislation shortly after the February 2022 local council elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Yakubu reiterated that the 2022 Act’s provisions are now definitive, shaping the tenure framework for elected officials at the local level.

This development underscores INEC’s commitment to upholding electoral integrity and adherence to legal frameworks, ensuring transparent and effective governance at all administrative levels. As preparations for future electoral cycles progress, stakeholders are urged to align with the updated legislative mandates to facilitate smooth transitions and operational continuity in Nigeria’s local government administration.