The Chairman of Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has called on civil society organisations (CSOs) to extend their monitoring efforts to party primaries. This appeal was made at the first regular consultative meeting with CSOs in Abuja on Tuesday.
Prof. Yakubu noted that while CSOs have been actively engaged in monitoring elections conducted by INEC, they should also focus on party primaries where candidates are nominated. He expressed concern over the incidence of delegate-buying by aspirants during primaries, urging CSOs to intensify their advocacy in support of efforts to tackle the practice.
The INEC chairman also briefed the meeting on the Commission’s preparation for the Anambra State Governorship election and the Area Council election in the Federal Capital Territory. In response, Ezenwa Nwagwu of Partners for Electoral Reforms pledged the CSOs’ commitment to addressing the menace of vote-buying, both at the general elections and during primaries.
Nwagwu stated that tackling vote-buying would require a collective effort from civil society, security agencies, and the media. He urged INEC to maintain and surpass the level of preparedness demonstrated in the Ondo State Governorship election, ensuring a credible and transparent electoral process in Anambra State and beyond.
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