INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu
By JOHN ONAH, Abuja –
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has called on Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to extend their electoral monitoring efforts to party primaries, particularly focusing on the growing issue of political aspirants buying delegates.
The appeal was made by the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, during the first Regular Consultative Meeting with CSOs for the year 2025, held on Tuesday 4th February 2025 at the INEC Headquarters in Abuja.
Addressing the gathering, Prof. Yakubu noted that while CSOs have been actively engaged in monitoring general elections and raising concerns over vote-buying at polling units, there is now an urgent need to tackle the problem of delegate-buying during party primaries.
He emphasized that the nomination process is a critical stage in the electoral process, as only candidates who emerge from party primaries appear on the ballot for citizens to vote on Election Day.
“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.
XYou should intensify your advocacy in support of the practical steps taken by the relevant security and law enforcement agencies to tackle this diabolical practice,” he urged.
The INEC Chairman also provided updates on the electoral calendar, stating that preparations for the Anambra State Governorship election, scheduled for 8th November 2025, are well underway. He reminded stakeholders that political parties interested in fielding candidates must conduct their primaries between 20th March and 10th April 2025. Similarly, he announced that the Area Council elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) would take place on 21st February 2026, with the timetable already published on INEC’s website.
In response, Ezenwa Nwagwu of Partners for Electoral Reforms, speaking on behalf of the CSOs, acknowledged the challenge posed by the INEC Chairman and pledged their commitment to addressing the menace of vote-buying, both at the general elections and during primaries.
“The challenge that you have thrown to us is a challenge that we will have to approach from a multi-stakeholder perspective. The menace of vote-buying at the general elections and that perpetrated by the politicians will need the collective effort of not just civil society, but also security agencies and the media. We will continue to shine a light on the activities of politicians, their parties, and candidates,” Nwagwu stated.
He further urged INEC to maintain and even surpass the level of preparedness demonstrated in the Ondo State Governorship election, to ensure a credible and transparent electoral process in Anambra State and beyond.
