2023 POLLS: INEC didn’t Receive Direct Funding from Development Partners- Chairman
Oru Leonard
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu has said the Commission did not receive any direct funding or cash support from international development partners for the 2023 general election.
He disclosed that their support was totally indirect through civil society organizations and implementing partners working on elections.
Prof. Yakubu made this known Monday at a meeting with Civil Society Organizations in Abuja, on the review of the 2023 general election to counter public believe that development partners gave INEC several billions of Naira for the 2023 elections. He dosclosed that it has been a longstanding policy of the present Commission not to receive direct funding and cash transfers from sources other than the Federal Government of Nigeria.
He also explained that it’s in furtherance of the partnership that the Commission accredits observers, noting that the feedback the Commission receives and the actionable recommendations of CSOs have been very helpful to the electoral process.
“For the 2023 General Election, the Commission received 538 requests [504 domestic and 34 foreign] for accreditation as observers. After a thorough evaluation of the requests, only 228 groups (190 domestic and 38 foreign) met the requirements for accreditation.
“However, so far, only 67 observer groups (62 domestic and five foreign) have so far submitted their observation reports which represents just about 30% of the accredited groups for the election.
“We urge all accredited observer groups that are yet to submit their reports to do so in earnest”, he stated.
INEC Chairman said the Commission will share its plans for the upcoming bye-elections and preparations for the off-cycle Governorship elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi States scheduled for Saturday 11th November 2023.
