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Tag: INEC

  • ICYMI: Buying delegates during primaries is diabolical – INEC

    ICYMI: Buying delegates during primaries is diabolical – INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has described as diabolical the practice of buying delegates by aspirants during primary elections of political parties.

    INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said this at the commission’s First Regular Consultative Meeting with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Abuja on Tuesday while urging the CSOs to develop interest in the primaries of political parties.

    Yakubu said that all political parties interested in fielding candidates for  the November 8 Anambra Governorship election would begin their primaries from  March 20 to April 10.

    He also advised the CSOs to beam their searchlights on parties’ primary for the FCT area councils election, scheduled for Feb. 21, 2026.

    “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,” Yakubu said.

    According to him, only candidates nominated by the political parties are placed on the ballot paper for citizens to vote for on election day,” the chairman said.

    He said that from the CSOs’ monitoring reports as accredited election observers, they had consistently expressed concerns over vote-buying at polling units during elections.

    According to him, some of them 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.

    In his remarks, Mr Ezenwa Nwagwu of Partners for Electoral Reforms, assured INEC that the CSOs would monitor activities of politicians and  primaries for  forthcoming elections.

    Nwagwu said that they would also work with relevant stakeholders to address the menace of vote buying in the country.

    “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,  perpetrated by  politicians will need the collective effort of not just CSOs but the security agencies and the media.

    “We will, as we have already started, to continue to beam searchlights on  activities of politicians, their political parties and candidates in any election,” he said.

    Nwagwu, however, advised INEC to build on achievements recorded in the  Ondo governorship election,  in its preparations for the Anambra governorship election.

  • Electoral Reform: Implement Uwais report, rejig INEC – NASS urged

    Electoral Reform: Implement Uwais report, rejig INEC – NASS urged

    Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the National Assembly has been urged to expedite actions on electoral reforms, address the integrity crises rocking election conducting body, and implement the Justice Mohammed Uwais report.

    The call was made on Wednesday in Abuja during an anti-corruption radio program, PUBLIC CONSCIENCE, produced by the Progressive Impact Organization for Community Development, PRIMORG.

    This development follows a recent investigative report published by the Center for Collaborative Investigative Journalism (CCIJ), which exposed how thousands of altered voting tallies and mutilated figures were successfully uploaded to the result portal of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) during the 2023 presidential elections in Nigeria.

    Speaking during the programme, the Executive Director of Alliance for Inclusive Development—AidAfrica, James Ugochukwu, called on the members of the National Assembly to ensure electoral reform processes are concluded before the end of 2025 to give room for adoption and test runs before the next general elections.

    Ugochukwu advised that all the reforms the legislators look forward to are contained in Justice Uwais’s report on electoral reform and other previous national conferences, warning that between now and June 2025 is the best period for electoral reforms rather than close to the 2027 elections.

    He called for the rejigging and reorganizing of INEC as part of the reforms, and a review of the technological failures of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the Result Viewing Portal (IREV) experienced during the last presidential election. He added that the IREV should be part of the Electoral Act and upgraded to reject mutilated and blurry electoral documents uploaded in the 2023 general and subsequent off-cycle polls.

    “About the snail pace of the electoral reform process by the National Assembly, there is nothing we want in the Electoral Act that has not been proffered by Justice Uwais’s report or the National CONFAB, so we should stop wasting taxpayers’ money trying to do any electoral reform process in the National Assembly.

    “What should be done is to converge all stakeholders, Nigeria Bar Association, Nigeria Union of Journalists, the Civil Society, the election management body, and security agencies in a conference.

    “Electoral reform should be quick, and we should be able to have a new Electoral Act, give or take the middle of this year ahead of 2027 – because a lot of things need to be done well. For instance, now INEC should be able to decide if the IREV portal will just be a result viewing portal or a result collation portal recognized by the law.

    Ugochukwu lauded PRIMORG for organizing the radio programme and sustaining the pressure on the government and federal legislators to prioritize electoral integrity and reforms.

    For his part, the Africa Editor, CCIJ, Ajibola Amzat, backed the call for electoral reforms and the implementation of the Uwais Commission report ahead of future elections and 2027 polls, adding that reform should be used to strike out the president’s prerogative to appoint the chairman of INEC as he could be a beneficiary of the same system.

    Amzat stressed that the integrity crisis in Nigeria’s elections is caused by the failure to punish electoral offenses over the years and worsening weak institutions.

    Reflecting on the CCIJ’s report on the irregularities allegedly undermining the 2023 presidential poll, He disclosed that INEC violated legal and constitutional instruments guiding elections.

    Additionally, Amzat revealed that the electoral body was unable to answer questions about altered figures and blurry documents submitted on IREV and claimed that IREV is currently inaccessible to the general public.

    “I’m in support of reforms. Interestingly, Nigeria has one of the finest laws guiding elections; it is just that the laws are paper tigers. They are good on paper but not good on enforcement.

    “I agree that the appointment of the INEC Chair should not be the decision of the president, who is also likely to be a beneficiary of the election.

    “The INEC needs to know that the law is not for decorations; instead, it has to be enforced. How many people have been prosecuted for the crimes committed in the last elections?

    “The constitution, the electoral law, the INEC guidelines, the international protocols, each of these legal instruments were violated during the last general elections, and counting votes during the elections. From our (CCIJ) checks, we found a lot of irregularities during the 2023 presidential poll,” Amzat lamented.

    On deepening the use of technology in Nigeria’s elections, he said, “I think technology is still going to play a part in every key development, so I think we need to make technology work for us. You know technology can be a good tool and a weapon as well, a weapon against the integrity of the people, so it depends on how you use technology.”

    Public Conscience is a syndicated weekly anti-corruption radio program, PRIMORG, that draws the attention of the government and citizens to corruption and integrity issues in Nigeria.

    The program runs in partnership with the MacArthur Foundation.

  • Ubah: No request to conduct Anambra South Senatorial bye election yet – INEC

    Ubah: No request to conduct Anambra South Senatorial bye election yet – INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it is still awaiting a request from the Senate for the conduct of by-election in Anambra South Senatorial District to replace Sen. Ifeanyi Ubah.

    Dr Elizabeth Agu, Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Anambra, said this at a stakeholders’ dialogue organised by the International Press Centre (IPC) in Awka on Thursday.

    The theme of the dialogue was “Rebuilding Trust in the Electoral Process and Election”.

    NAN reports that Sen. Ifeanyi Ubah, who was representing Anambra South Senatorial District died in July, 2024.

    Agu said that INEC had made preparations for the election and was ready to conduct it anytime it received a request from the Senate to fill the vacant seat.

    She called on Anambra public, especially politicians, to play by the rules as the state prepared for Nov. 8 governorship election while assuring that the electoral body would ensure that peoples votes counted.

    “INEC is ready for the Anambra South Senatorial District by-election but the Senate has to write us to request for the replacement of the vacant seat before we can conduct the election,” she said.

    In his keynote lecture, Dr Nkwachukwu Orji, a lecturer at the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), said that public trust was crucial to participatory and successful election.

    Nkwachukwu, a former REC in the state, said that voter apathy was an indication that there were things that were wrong in the electoral process including high trust deficit.

    The don said though INEC had the constitutional rights to supervise the electoral process, it had allowed other members of the society to be part of the process with the aim of boosting public trust.

    He said that trust issues in elections could be as a result of competence or integrity.

    According to him, trust is a process that goes up or down and is affected by fraud and irregularities, unprofessional conduct of officials, poor legal framework, partisan bias and others.

    “This is why INEC has transferred the announcement of the result to Vice Chancellors ,” he said.

    The Chairman of the programme, Dr Emeka Ononamadu, said the election process required an interplay of multiple collaborating stakeholders, who must work effectively for a credible outcome.

    Ononamadu, a former REC in Enugu State and Convener of Nigeria Democracy Clinic, said the stakeholders were the civil society, security agencies and the general public, all of whom should play roles well.

    He said another challenge to the election process in Nigeria was the role of political prophets who predicted outcomes putting the electorate and the umpire under unnecessary pressure.

    In an address of welcome, Mr. Lanre Arogundade, Executive Director, International Press Centre (IPC), said the large turnout indicated their dedication and commitment to enhancing the electoral system.

    Arogundade, who was reprsented by Stella Nwofia, Programme Manager at IPC promised that recommendations from the dialogue would be shared with relevant authorities for enhancement of the democratic processes.

    “Our aim is to gather insights from all geopolitical zones in Nigeria, focusing on the urgent need to rebuild trust and foster collaboration that will improve future elections especially following the complexities that arose during the 2023 general elections.

    “Together, we can spark meaningful change and restore integrity to our elections, road ahead may be challenging, but with collective effort and determination, we can make a difference,” he said.” he said.

  • INEC seeks alternative for by-elections

    INEC seeks alternative for by-elections

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has called for the amendment of the law for a more cost-effective alternative methods of filling vacancies at the national and state assemblies.

    The INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu made the call during the commission’s consultative meeting with political parties on Wednesday in Abuja.

    He urged stakeholders to prevail on the national assembly to amend the law for a more cost-effective alternative means as it was  being practiced in many jurisdictions around the world.

    Yakubu said that INEC had been appealing to stakeholders, including political parties, to join the advocacy and for the national assembly to amend the law accordingly.

    He said that over the last one and a half years since the inauguration of the current national and state assemblies in June 2023, vacancies had occurred in 23 constituencies.

    According to him,  this is as a result of death of serving members or voluntary resignation for executive positions at federal, state,  local governments.

    He said some also resigned due to their appointment as ministers, commissioners, chairman of a local government or as a  board member or chairman.

    “While the commission has conducted nine by-elections early last year, 14 more vacancies have occurred since then.

    “They are unpredictable, unbudgeted for and difficult to plan in advance. Worse still, some by-elections lead to another.

    “There are situations where a by-election in one senatorial district was won by a serving member of the house of representatives from the same district, thereby creating another vacancy.

    “In turn, a member of the state assembly won the by-election to the house of representatives and this led to  another vacancy in the state assembly.

    “Consequently, one by-election led to three by-elections. Not only are these by-elections costly, they also divert the commission’s attention from its other extensive electoral responsibilities,’’ he said.

  • INEC fixes date for FCT Area Council election

    INEC fixes date for FCT Area Council election

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed Feb. 21, 2026 for the conduct of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections.

    The INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu disclosed this during the commission’s first consultative meeting with leaders of political parties on Wednesday in Abuja.

    Yakubu, who recalled that the last FCT area council election was held on Feb. 12, 2022, said that by the effluxion of time, the tenure of the current Chairmen and Councillors ends 2026.

    He said that voting would take place in all the designated Polling Units (PUs) across the 68 constituencies to elect the six Area Council Chairmen and 62 Councilors.

    “In compliance with the mandatory legal requirements, the notice for the election will be published next month i.e. Feb. 26, 2025,” he said.

    Yakubu said that primaries for the election would hold from June 9 to June 30, 2025, while the candidate nomination portal would open from 9am to 6pm from July 21 to Aug. 11.

    “The final list of candidates will be published on Sept. 22, 2025. Campaigns in public by political parties will commence on Sept. 2025 and end at midnight of Thursday Feb. 19, 2026,’’ he said.

    The INEC boss added that the detailed timetable and schedule of activities for the election as well as the list of constituencies and type of elections in the FCT would be uploaded to the INEC website before the end of the meeting.

    He also reminded leaders of political parties that the primaries for the Nov. 8, Anambra governorship election would commence on March 20 to April 10.

    He advised political parties to forward their schedule of activities for the election to the commission before the end of the week.

    This, according to Yakubu would enable INEC to plan better for the deployment of personnel and resources for the monitoring of party primaries and campaign activities.

    Yakubu, who said that 2025 would be a busy year for INEC, noted that the commission would soon come up with plans for other routine activities such as the resumption of nationwide Continuous Voter registration (CVR) and the conduct of outstanding by-elections.

    In his remarks, the National Chairman, Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Yusuf Dantalle, urged INEC in preparation for Anambra governorship and 2027 general elections to immediately put in place requirements in due time.

    Dantalle also urged INEC to also activate its Election Project Plan (EPP), Strategic Programme of Action (SPA), the 2022 – 2026 Strategic Plan and Strategic Plan Implementation Programme (SPIP) in preparation for Anambra governorship and the 2027 general elections.

    He said these were important to conduct credible elections, improve on previous performance and to meet the expectation of Nigerians.

    Dantalle also urged stakeholders to support INEC in discharging its statutory duties essential in consolidating and strengthening Nigeria constitutional governance.

    He said that stakeholders must continue to work together in ensuring electoral integrity, the sanctity of the ballot box and the mandate of the people.

    “Similarly, the council urged the National Assembly to expedite action in the on-going Constitution and Electoral Act Amendments, as time is of the essence; as well as ensure diligent and speedy consideration and passage of the 2025 appropriation bill.

    “We also urge citizens to be alive to their civic responsibilities and ensure that those they voted into office should give genuine account of their stewardship.

    “Their performance will determine their fate in future elections,” Dantalle said.

  • INEC flushes out 7,746 deceased voters from national register

    INEC flushes out 7,746 deceased voters from national register

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed that 7,746 deceased voters were removed from the national voter register in Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory as of December 2022.

    INEC’s Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Victoria Etta-Messi, disclosed this on Thursday, emphasising the commission’s commitment to maintaining an accurate voter register.

    “Seven thousand, seven hundred and forty-six decreased persons across the 36 states and the FCT were removed from the National Register of voters as of December 2022,” she stated.

    Despite progress in cleaning the register, INEC highlighted persistent challenges during its 2023 post-general election review in December 2024. One major issue is the difficulty of removing deceased voters due to inadequate official death records.

    “Problems with official death records continue to make it very difficult for INEC to remove deceased registrants,” the commission noted, adding that enhanced collaboration with agencies like the National Population Commission (NPC) and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) is critical to address the issue.

    INEC also tackled double and multiple registrations using the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS), which flagged and removed 2,780,756 invalid registrations, accounting for 22.6% of new registrants.

    Concerns over declining voter turnout were also raised. The 2023 presidential and National Assembly elections recorded a turnout of 27.5%, a drop from 35.6% in 2019. Stakeholders attributed this decline partly to an inflated voter register and proposed measures such as suspending individuals who have not voted in the last three elections and requiring them to revalidate their registration.

    INEC affirmed its commitment to improving the voter registration process and addressing these issues to enhance electoral integrity in future elections.

  • INEC rejects 2025 budget allocation, demands N126bn

    INEC rejects 2025 budget allocation, demands N126bn

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has sought an increase in its budgetary allocation to N126 billion, against the N40 billion earmarked for it in the 2025 budget estimates.

    INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu made the request on Friday in Abuja at the budget defence session of Senate and House of Representatives Joint Committee on INEC and Electoral Matters.

    Mahmood, in his presentation ,said elections in Nigeria had become huge burden, requiring adequate funding.

    “Our proposal for the 2025 budget, the provision requires the sum of over N126 billion. We have the document that has provided details, line-by-line details ,on how we intend to spend the 126 billion.

    “We would like the support of the National Assembly to enable us achieve our responsibilities in the first line charge and most of these responsibilities are constitutional.

    ”In a nutshell, the N40 billion budget envelope given to us for 2025, will not cover one third of projected expenses which totally amounts to over N126 billion.

    ”Aside the off-cycle elections for 21 constituencies to be filled through bye-elections and the Anambra Governorship election this year, personnel cost alone on account of new minimum wage, will gulp the N40 billion budgetary envelope,” he said.

    He said the inadequacy of the N40 billion budget envelope made the electoral body to receive intervention funds of N10.5 billion for Edo and Ondo elections in 2024 and another N500 million for bye-elections on affected constituencies in 2024.

    Members of the committee, in their individual submissions, assured that the proposed sum would be appropriated in the 2025 fiscal year.

    Sen. Ireti Kingibe, in her submission, said the situation was not about looking for the N126 billion for INEC in 2025 fiscal year, but providing it.

    The committee thereafter resolved into a closed-door session with the INEC Chairman and National Commissioners to deliberate further on how to source the funds and appropriate it in 2025 budget.

  • Benin Republic sends delegates to study Nigeria’s electoral processes

    Benin Republic sends delegates to study Nigeria’s electoral processes

    No fewer than 12 senior members of Benin Republic national electoral management body, Commission Electorale Nationale Autonomie (CENA), are currently in Nigeria to understudy the country’s electoral processes.

    The 12-member CENA delegation, led by its President, Dr Sacca Lafia, was received by Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja on Monday.

    Yakubu said that the delegation, comprising national commissioners, directors and critical staff members, were in the country to understudy Nigeria’s electoral processes and procedures.

    He said that early November, INEC received a letter from CENA indicating its interest to undertake a study visit to INEC, as the country was preparing for its “most complex election in 2026.”

    Yakubu said that for the first time in its history, CENA would be conducting three elections within a period of three months.

    The elections, according to him, include legislative and local elections, saying that they would be held in January 2026. He said that the election would be followed by the presidential election in April 2026.

    “In particular, CENA is interested in the legal framework for elections in Nigeria, the design and printing of election materials and forms, the recruitment and training of poll officials.

    “CENA is also interested in election budgeting and mode of payment to different service providers, security during elections and the use of technology.

    “The accreditation of local and international observers, engagement with electoral stakeholders and other aspects of Nigeria’s electoral experience, are also included,” he said.

    Yakubu said that INEC had drawn up an elaborate programme for the visit covering all aspects of the electoral process.

    He said that various departments within the commission had been scheduled to brief the visitors.

    The INEC chairman expressed confidence that peer learning and support would help to strengthen the processes for the country’s elections.

    “I want to assure CENA that we will fully share our experiences with you and make available relevant documents that will enrich your understanding of our processes,” Yakubu said.

    Responding, Chairman of CENA, Dr Sacca Lafia, said that they were in Nigeria to understudy INEC’s electoral process.

    Lafia expressed confidence that experience sharing from INEC would go a long way in enhancing the country’s elections.

    “Thank you for the warm reception; thank you for this meeting. The president has mandated the conduct of three elections within three months in 2026.

    “We are going to learn from Nigeria’s experience so that we can do well. This meeting and engagement will surely make that come to pass,” he said.

  • Herbal tea promoting smoking not registered – NAFDAC

    Herbal tea promoting smoking not registered – NAFDAC

    The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Saturday denied claims that it approved the use of Lung Detox Tea, which promotes smoking.

    In a statement on Saturday signed by Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, Director-General of NAFDAC, the agency clarified on its X handle that the application for approval of the product was rejected.

    This was due to its unsubstantiated and harmful claim that smoking could be made “healthy” by using the product.

    The statement read: “NAFDAC has been made aware of a misleading video circulating on social media, alleging that the agency approved the registration of a herbal product claiming that ‘smoking is healthy’ when used with their product.”

    “NAFDAC wishes to categorically state that this claim is false and completely unfounded. The product in question, Lung Detox Tea, Lungitox (Smokers Pride), or any similar product, is not registered by NAFDAC.

    “The unscrupulous individual behind this product had applied for registration, but the application was out rightly rejected due to the dangerous and unsupported claim.”

    It said NAFDAC reiterated its commitment to protecting public health and ensuring that only safe, effective, and scientifically supported products are approved.

    “We condemn any attempt to mislead or endanger the public with false claims. The public is advised to disregard this video and report any suspicious claims or products to the Agency through our official channels”.

  • INEC reacts to Mahmood Yakubu’s reported death

    INEC reacts to Mahmood Yakubu’s reported death

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has refuted reports that its chairman, Professor Yakubu Mahmood, died in London.

    According to Chief Press Secretary, Rotimi Oyekanmi, the electoral body chairman has not traveled to London in the last two years.

    Oyekanmi said contrary to the report, Mahmood Yakubu is hale and hearty.

    It read: “Our attention has been drawn to a fake news narrative circulated by a section of the social media claiming the purported death of the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu at a London hospital. The story first appeared on Monday, 9th December 2024.

    “We hereby appeal to the public to disregard the rumour. Prof. Yakubu is alive, hale and hearty. In fact, he has not travelled to London in the last two years. He was present at an interactive meeting with the House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters on Wednesday, 11th December 2024.

    “He also chaired the Commission’s meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners on Thursday, 12th December 2024. Both events were widely covered on television and reported on the front pages of most newspapers yesterday, Friday 13th December 2024.

    “The public may recall that mischief-makers on the social media carried a similar fake story in 2021. Three years later, they are spreading the same rumour again.

    “Those who indulge in this practice, as well as those who spread it, should be mindful of its effect not only on the individual but also the wider society.”

    INEC said it would continue to cooperate with the media to fight fake news and misinformation.