The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has asked civil society organizations (CSOs) to forestall delegate buying at political party primary elections.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, made the appeal at the first quarterly consultative meeting with CSOs for 2025, held at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday.
Yakubu, who said this can be achieved by oversight functions, emphasized the need to curb vote-buying and other electoral malpractices.
He frowned at reports of delegate-buying during political party primaries, lamenting that they remain widespread.
The INEC Head added that delegates have openly admitted to receiving financial inducements during the nomination process, underscoring the need for closer scrutiny and decisive action.
Yakubu acknowledged the vital role Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) play in election observation and advocacy. He noted that their reports have been instrumental in identifying and addressing electoral irregularities.
Yakubu urged CSOs to extend their focus beyond general elections to include the monitoring of party primaries, emphasizing their significance in the electoral process.
“I would like to urge civil society organisations to be as interested in party primaries as you are actively engaged in monitoring elections conducted by INEC. After all, only the candidates nominated by political parties make it to the ballot for citizens to vote on election day,” he stated.
He also commended CSOs for their consistent efforts in highlighting concerns such as vote-buying at polling units, which have been reflected in their observation reports.
He added, “Many of you have made actionable recommendations on tackling vote-buying, and the Commission has favorably considered several of these proposals.”
“As political parties gear up for the upcoming primaries, it is crucial to broaden your focus on the widespread issue of delegate-buying by aspirants.
“Some delegates have openly bragged about the substantial sums they received from candidates during past primaries. There is an urgent need to strengthen advocacy efforts in support of the concrete steps being taken by security and law enforcement agencies to curb this unethical practice.
This discussion comes at a critical time, as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) prepares for several key elections. Notably, the Anambra State Governorship election is set for November 8, 2025, with party primaries scheduled to take place between March 20 and April 10, 2025.”
The INEC Chairman reminded stakeholders that the timetable and schedule of activities for the upcoming election were released in October last year, with the official Notice of Election published on November 13, 2024, in accordance with legal requirements.
Beyond the Anambra election, the Commission is also making preparations for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections, scheduled to hold on February 21, 2026.
The tenure of the six local government Chairmen and 62 Councillors is set to expire next year, with preparations for the upcoming elections already in motion.
Amid these preparations, stakeholders have been urged to intensify monitoring of party primaries, where widespread allegations of delegate-buying have raised serious concerns.
Notably, some delegates have openly admitted to receiving financial inducements during the nomination process, highlighting the urgent need for stricter oversight and decisive action to uphold electoral integrity.