INEC Clarifies Tenure Duration for FCT Area Council Chairmen

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has emphasized the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 regarding the tenure of Area Council Chairmen in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), urging political parties and stakeholders to adhere to the updated regulations.

During a meeting with the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in Abuja on Friday, INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu clarified that the Electoral Act 2022 guarantees a four-year tenure for both Chairmen and Councillors, contrary to the previous three-year tenure stipulated in the Electoral Act 2010.

Yakubu disclosed that INEC received inquiries from various quarters, including law firms, individuals, political parties, and chairmanship aspirants’ forums, seeking clarification on the tenure issue based on the outdated Electoral Act 2010.

Explaining the legal standpoint, Yakubu stated, “Nigerians are aware that the National Assembly has repealed and re-enacted the Electoral Act 2010 as the Electoral Act 2022. In exercising its authority over the FCT, the National Assembly extended the tenure of Area Councils from three to four years, aligning it with national executive and legislative elections.”

He emphasized that the tenure of current Chairmen and Councillors, inaugurated under the new law in June 2022, will expire in June 2026, based on the date they took their oaths of office.

Yakubu reiterated the Commission’s commitment to conducting elections in accordance with the law and judicial interpretations, urging political parties and potential candidates to await the release of the election timetable and schedule of activities at the appropriate time.

In response, IPAC National Chairman Yusuf Mohammed Dantalle acknowledged the clarity provided by INEC and affirmed the readiness of stakeholders to abide by the electoral laws governing the tenure of council officials in the FCT.