Odimmegwa Johnpeter/Abuja
Ahead of the Anambra State Governorship election, and the Area Council election in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has urged Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to beam their search light on political parties primary elections in Nigeria.
The INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu gave the charge during the first quarterly consultative meeting with CSOs at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday.
Prof. Yakubu emphasized that since the CSO have been actively engaged in the monitoring of secondary elections conducted by INEC, it’s also pertinent for them to do the same to the party primaries.
He further noted that hence CSOs have consistently expressed concern over vote-buying at Polling Units during elections, noting that it’s time to focus on the incidence of delegate-buying by aspirants during primaries.
The INEC boss stated: “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”.
In his remarks, Mr. Ezenwa Nwagwu, Partners for Electoral Reforms, acknowledged the challenge thrown at them by INEC while calling for concerted efforts with the security agencies and other relevant institutions.
Nwagwu, however, urged INEC to replicate in subsequent elections the same level of preparation towards the Ondo State Governorship election.
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