INEC Tasks CSOs On Delegates Buying By Politicians

Chairman, INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu
Share this story.

By Akombo Aondona, Abuja

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has urged civil society organisations (CSOs) to move against the scourge of delegates buying by political aspirants in the country.

Chairman of the commission, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, stated this at the first  regular consultative meeting with the civil society organisations held at the commission conference room Abuja.

Yakubu said: “As you are aware, the Commission released the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the Anambra State Governorship election on 17th October last year. As required by law, the Notice of Election was published on 13th November 2024 i.e. 360 days before the date fixed for the election scheduled to hold on 8th November 2025. The next activity is the conduct of party primaries which begins next month. All political parties interested in fielding candidates for the election shall commence their primaries on 20th March 2025 and end three weeks later on 10th April 2025. The Commission’s preparation for the election is on the agenda for this meeting.

“Similarly, the Commission has released the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the Area Council election in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) which is the only part of the country where INEC conducts Local Government election. The election will hold on Saturday 21st February 2026. As you are aware, the four-year tenure of the six Chairmen and 62 Councillors will end next year. The last Area Council election was held on 12 February 2022. The Timetable for the election is already uploaded to our website. Further details will be discussed at this meeting.

“I would like to urge civil society organisations to be as interested in party primaries as you are actively engaged in the monitoring of secondary elections conducted by INEC. Afterall, only the candidates nominated by the political parties are placed on the ballot paper for citizens to vote for on Election Day. From your monitoring reports as accredited election observers, you have consistently expressed concern over vote-buying at Polling Units during elections. Some of you have made actionable recommendations on how to curtail the menace which have been favourably considered by the Commission. It is time to cast your net wide by focusing on the incidence of delegate-buying by aspirants during primaries. Some delegates openly boasted of how much money they made from aspirants during party primaries. You should intensify your advocacy in support of the practical steps taken by the relevant security and law enforcement agencies to tackle this diabolical practice..


Share this story.

Sponsored

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.


*