…spent N2,249 per voter
The 2019 general election gulp N189 billion the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), says in a report.
INEC stated it spent the sum of $6.24 or N2,249 for every vote cast in the 2019 general elections.
National Assembly had in 2018 approved the request by INEC to spend N189bn for the 2019 poll.
A 384 page ‘Report of the 2019 general election,’ was formally released by the Chairman of the commission, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, in Abuja on Friday. Yakubu explained that the amount and the figures were within acceptable global standard.
“This translates to N2,249 ($6.24) per voter. This figure is well within the internationally acceptable Average Cost per Registered Voter Index that ranges from $1 to $3 in established and stable democracies, $4 to $8 in transitional democracies, and from $9 in post-conflict and transitional democracies,” the report said.
INEC blamed increase in the number of political parties, increase in the voting population and registered voters, high cost of logistics, exchange rates, and increase in number of constituencies for the increase.
Yakubu, whose tenure was renewed recently spoke at the presentation of the report and ‘Review of the 2019 general election: Review of the commission’s retreats and stakeholder engagements,’ explained that the 2019 election was the largest electoral exercise so far undertaken in the history of elections in Nigeria.
