Mahmood Yakubu, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has called upon civil society organisations (CSOs) to extend their oversight beyond general elections to include political party primaries.
Speaking at the commission’s quarterly consultative meeting, Yakubu highlighted growing concerns over widespread vote-buying and delegate manipulation during these pivotal nomination processes.
Yakubu emphasized the critical role of CSOs in monitoring elections, noting their significant impact in addressing electoral irregularities through advocacy and reporting.
He urged CSOs to focus their attention on primary elections with the same rigor applied to general elections, stressing that the candidates selected during primaries ultimately appear on the ballot paper for citizen voting.
Acknowledging reports of delegates openly discussing financial inducements received during nominations, Yakubu underscored the need for intensified scrutiny by CSOs.
He urged them to advocate for enhanced measures by security and law enforcement agencies to combat these unethical practices.
The INEC Chairman’s directive comes ahead of the upcoming Anambra state governorship election, slated for November 8.
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