INEC Chairman Urges CSOs to Monitor Party Primaries, Condemns Delegate Buying/Vop

As political parties prepare for the Anambra State gubernatorial primaries set to begin on March 20, 2025, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, has called for greater transparency in the process. He urged civil society organizations (CSOs) to extend their election monitoring efforts to party primaries and assist security agencies in curbing electoral malpractice.

Speaking at INEC’s first quarterly consultative meeting of 2025 with CSOs in Abuja, Professor Yakubu expressed concern over the increasing trend of delegate buying, warning that it undermines the integrity of elections.

He emphasized that political parties play a crucial role in shaping electoral outcomes, as only their nominated candidates make it to the ballot. He, therefore, urged CSOs to be as vigilant during primaries as they are during general elections.

“You have consistently raised concerns over vote-buying at polling units, and some of your recommendations have influenced our interventions,” Yakubu stated. “Now, it is time to widen your focus to the issue of delegate buying during primaries.”

He further pointed out that some delegates have openly boasted about financial benefits received from aspirants, a situation that, if left unchecked, could compromise the credibility of the electoral process.

In response, Mr. Ezenwa Nwagwu of Partners for Electoral Reforms, speaking on behalf of the CSOs, urged INEC to ensure adequate preparations for the upcoming Anambra State Governorship Election. He reassured that CSOs would collaborate closely with INEC and other stakeholders to promote a free, fair, and credible electoral process.

The meeting also reviewed INEC’s readiness for key upcoming elections, including the Anambra State Governorship election scheduled for November 8, 2025, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council election set for February 21, 2026.