By Nkechi Eze
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is urging civil society organizations to broaden their election monitoring efforts to include political party primaries, in addition to general elections.
INEC has stressed the importance of preventing vote-buying and other forms of electoral misconduct to ensure the integrity of the electoral process.
The appeal was made by INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu to civil society organizations, urging them to monitor political party primaries during the first quarterly consultative meeting for 2025, held at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
The INEC boss Mahmood Yakubu recognized the vital contributions of civil society organizations (CSOs) in monitoring elections and promoting advocacy, highlighting that their findings have been instrumental in tackling electoral irregularities.
Yakubu urged civil society organizations to shift their attention to party primaries, where incidents of delegate-buying have been rampant, emphasizing the need for credible primary elections to ensure the integrity of the electoral process.
According to Yakubu, some delegates have openly admitted to receiving financial incentives during the nomination process, highlighting the need for closer examination and decisive action to address this issue.
“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. After all, 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.”
The meeting comes as INEC gears up for several key elections.
The Anambra State Governorship election is scheduled for November 8, 2025, with political parties expected to conduct their primaries between March 20 and April 10, 2025.
INEC Chairman reminded stakeholders that the electoral timeline and schedule were made public in October of last year, and the official Notice of Election was published on November 13, 2024, as required by law.
In addition to the Anambra election, INEC is also gearing up for the Area Council elections in the Federal Capital Territory, set to take place on February 21, 2026.
As the tenure of the six Chairmen and 62 Councillors will come to an end next year, and preparations for the elections are already on going.
“The election timetable has been published on INEC’s website, and further details will be discussed in subsequent engagements” Yakubu stated.
