INEC’s Constitutional Mandate Is Not All About Elections - Kayode Ajulo

By Our Reporter

The Ondo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr Kayode Ajulo, OON, SAN, has said that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) possesses a broader constitutional mandate that extends far beyond conducting elections in the country.

Ajulo made this known In a statement, copy of which was made available to newsmen on Saturday, emphasising that INEC was established under Section 153(1)(f) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) as one of the key independent federal executive bodies designed to safeguard Nigeria’s democracy.

Citing Part I, Paragraph 15 of the Third Schedule to the 1999 Constitution, Ajulo highlighted INEC’s powers to organise elections, register and monitor political parties, audit their accounts, and maintain the voters’ register, noting that these responsibilities underscored a continuous, proactive role throughout the electoral cycle. 

"These provisions make one thing clear: INEC is not all about elections,” Ajulo stated, adding: "While conducting credible polls is its most visible responsibility, the Constitution deliberately assigns the Commission a broad, continuous, and proactive mandate."

The Ondo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice referenced the Electoral Act 2022, which further empowers INEC to conduct voter and civic education, promote democratic processes, and handle referendums, among other functions. 

According to him, these include monitoring party primaries, regulating campaign finances, and ensuring internal democracy within political parties, positing that functions such as Continuous Voter Registration (CVR), party finance auditing, and sustained civic education form the essential infrastructure of democracy. 

Ajulo warned that a narrow perception of INEC as merely a polling-day body had contributed to challenges like inaccuracies in the voters’ register, weak enforcement of rules, and public distrust.

The Senior Advocate, therefore, called on the electoral Umpire to prioritise its year-round responsibilities with the same rigour applied to general elections. 

He urged stronger party regulation to curb godfatherism and imposition of candidates, enhanced civic education to combat apathy and misinformation, and unwavering demonstration of institutional independence.

The commissioner further noted that the Supreme Court had consistently upheld INEC’s broad regulatory powers derived directly from the Constitution.

He concluded by stressing that living up to the full meaning of "Independent National Electoral Commission" is a constitutional imperative.

According to him, "Independent demands courage and neutrality. National requires service to all Nigerians without fear or favour. Electoral encompasses the holistic democratic franchise."

As Nigeria looks ahead to the 2027 General Elections, Ajulo advised INEC to fully embrace its wide-ranging mandate to build public confidence and strengthen participatory democracy in the country.