By Folorunso Alagbede, Abuja
The Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Mahmood Yakubu has called on the nation’s Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to show interest in the primaries of political parties ahead of the forthcoming Anambra governorship election and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Areas Council elections.
Prof Yakubu made the call on Tuesday during INEC’s first regular consultative meeting with the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Abuja.
The INEC Chairman stated that all political parties interested in fielding candidates for Nov. 8 Anambra State Governorship election would commence their primaries between March 20 to April 10, this year.
He advised the CSOs to beam their search light on the parties primary for the FCT area councils election scheduled for Nov. Feb 21, 2026.
According to him, “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,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of the CSOs at the meeting, Mr Ezenwa Nwagwu of Partners for Electoral Reforms, assured INEC that the CSOs would monitor activities of politicians and parties primaries for the forthcoming elections.
Nwagwu assured that the party would work with relevant stakeholders to address the menace of vote buying in the country.
His words, “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 the security agencies and the media.
“We will, as we have already started to continue to beam search lights on the activities of politicians, their political parties and their candidates in any election,” he said.
Nwagwu, however, advised INEC to build on achievements recorded in Ondo governorship election in its preparedness for Anambra governorship election.
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