The Independent National Electoral Commission did not collect any cash either directly or indirectly from development partners towards the 2023 General elections, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu said.
Yakubu who is the Chairman of the Commission, said that INEC however got support in kind from the partners.
He disclosed this during a review meeting with the Civil Society Organizations on Monday.
He said, “It is necessary to seize this opportunity to correct the impression in some sections of the public that the Commission received huge sums of money from development partners for the election. “On the contrary, and for the avoidance of doubt, the Commission did not receive any direct funding or cash support from international development partners. “Rather, their support was totally indirect through civil society organisations and implementing partners working on elections.”
He further explained that “Indeed, 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. “We hope that we shall continue to have this type of productive partnership with civil society and development partners in the future.”
Meanwhile, the Commission praised the various accredited observers for the feedbacks they provided, which, Yakubu said have been “very helpful to the electoral process.
Only 228 groups (190 domestic and 38 foreign) were accredited for the polls out of 530 that applied
However, 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.”
He therefore urged those who are yet to submit their report to do so.
“We urge all accredited observer groups that are yet to submit their reports to do so in earnest.”
INEC also intend to share with CSOs 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.
