2 weeks Ago By Rapheal
From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has challenged Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to show similar interest they give while monitoring the conduct of main elections to the organisation of party primaries. INEC’s Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, gave the charge in his remarks at the first regular consultative meeting with the CSOs in Abuja, yesterday, reminding them to cast their nets wide by focusing on incidents of delegate-buying by aspirants during primaries. Yakubu urged them to intensify their advocacy in support of the practical steps taken by the relevant security and law enforcement agencies to tackle the diabolical practice.
“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 charged..
