
Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu on Tuesday requested civil society organisations to pay shut consideration to the conduct of get together primaries and never solely the conduct of the final elections.
Talking on the first quarterly assembly with Civil Society Organisations, Prof. Yakubu mentioned shut monitoring of get together primaries will assist get rid of vote shopping for as some aspirsnts brazenly boast of how a lot they get from aspirants.
He mentioned: “I wish to urge civil society organisations to be as serious about get together primaries as you’re actively engaged within the monitoring of secondary elections performed by INEC.
“Afterall, solely the candidates nominated by the political events are positioned on the poll paper for residents to vote for on Election Day. Out of your monitoring reviews as accredited election observers, you may have persistently expressed concern over vote-buying at Polling Items throughout elections.
“A few of you may have made actionable suggestions on the way to curtail the menace which have been favourably thought of by the Fee. It’s time to solid your internet large by specializing in the incidence of delegate-buying by aspirants throughout primaries.
“Some delegates brazenly boasted of how a lot cash they created from aspirants throughout get together primaries. It is best to intensify your advocacy in help of the sensible steps taken by the related safety and regulation enforcement businesses to sort out this diabolical follow.”
He knowledgeable the CSOs of the timetable for the Anambra governorship election scheduled. For November 8, 2025 and the FCT Space Council elections scheduled for February 21, 2026.
He mentioned: “As you’re conscious, the Fee launched the Timetable and Schedule of Actions for the Anambra State Governorship election on seventeenth October final 12 months. As required by regulation, the Discover of Election was printed on thirteenth November 2024 i.e. 360 days earlier than the date fastened for the election scheduled to carry on eighth November 2025.
“The following exercise is the conduct of get together primaries which begins subsequent month. All political events serious about fielding candidates for the election shall start their primaries on twentieth March 2025 and finish three weeks in a while tenth April 2025. The Fee’s preparation for the election is on the agenda for this assembly.
“Equally, the Fee has launched the Timetable and Schedule of Actions for the Space Council election within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) which is the one a part of the nation the place INEC conducts Native Authorities election.
“The election will maintain on Saturday twenty first February 2026. As you’re conscious, the four-year tenure of the six Chairmen and 62 Councillors will finish subsequent 12 months. The final Space Council election was held on 12 February 2022.”