Focus On Delegate-Buying During Party Primaries, INEC Urges CSOs

By Nathaniel Gana

4th February 2025

For several years, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have been actively engaged in monitoring the secondary elections conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and have in their respective reports, expressed concerns over vote buying at polling units during elections.

But the Commission today told the CSOs to also focus on the incidence of delegate-buying by aspirants during party primaries.

Speaking at the Commission’s first consultative meeting with the CSOs held today in Abuja, the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu said some delegates openly boasted of how much money they made from aspirants during party primaries, describing the practise as diabolical.

He said: “The Commission released the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the Anambra State Governorship election on 17^th October last year. As required by law, the Notice of Election was published on 13^th November 2024, that is, 360 days before the date fixed for the election scheduled to hold on 8^th November 2025. The next activity is the conduct of party primaries which begins next month. All political parties interested in fielding candidates for the election shall commence their primaries on 20^th March 2025 and end three weeks later on 10^th April 2025.

“I would like to urge civil society organisations to be as interested in party primaries as you are actively engaged in the monitoring of secondary elections conducted by INEC. Afterall, only the candidates nominated by the political parties are placed on the ballot paper for citizens to vote for on Election Day.

“From your monitoring reports as accredited election observers, you have consistently expressed concern over vote-buying at Polling Units during elections. Some of you have made actionable recommendations on how to curtail the menace which have been favourably considered by the Commission. 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. You should intensify your advocacy in support of the practical steps taken by the relevant security and law enforcement agencies to tackle this diabolical practice.”

Prof. Yakubu also reminded the CSOs that the Commission released the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the Area Council election in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the only part of the country where INEC conducts Local Government elections, with the polls scheduled for Saturday 21st February 2026. He said the four-year tenure of the six Chairmen and 62 Councillors in the FCT would end next year.

Responding on behalf of the CSOs, Mr. Ezenwa Nwagwu of the Partners for Electoral Reforms (PER), acknowledged the challenge posed by the INEC Chairman and pledged their commitment to addressing the menace of vote-buying, at both the general elections and party 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.