As party primaries for Anambra state gubernatorial election begin on March 20, 2025, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, has emphasised the need for transparency and accountability, urging civil society organizations, CSOs, to support security agencies in tackling electoral malpractice.
The INEC Chairman, who was speaking at the first quarterly consultative meeting of 2025 with CSOs in Abuja, called on them to extend their election monitoring efforts to party primaries, warning against the growing trend of delegate buying.
Yakubu stressed that political parties play a crucial role in shaping electoral outcomes, as only their nominated candidates appear on the ballot.
He urged CSOs to be as vigilant in monitoring primaries as they are in overseeing general elections.
“You have consistently raised concerns over vote-buying at polling units, and some of your recommendations have shaped our interventions. L
“Now, it is time to widen your focus to the issue of delegate buying during primaries,” Yakubu stated, noting that some delegates have openly bragged about the financial gains they made from aspirants.
Mr. Ezenwa Nwagwu of Partners for Electoral Reforms, who responded on behalf of Civil Society Organisations, urged INEC to make adequate preparation for the conduct of this year’s Anambra State Governorship Election, while promising that they would work closely with INEC and other stakeholders to ensure that the electoral process is free, fair, and credible.
The meeting also reviewed INEC’s preparations for the upcoming Anambra State Governorship election set for November 8, 2025, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council election scheduled for February 21, 2026 among others.
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