The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has expressed deep concerns over the increasing prevalence of vote buying and delegate manipulation during party primaries.
Speaking at INEC’s first quarterly consultative meeting with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Abuja on Tuesday, Yakubu urged CSOs to extend their election monitoring efforts beyond general elections to include party primaries.
CSOs Urged to Monitor Delegate Buying in Primaries

According to Yakubu, while CSOs have traditionally focused on general elections, they must now pay closer attention to the nomination process within political parties.
“Some delegates openly boasted of how much money they made from aspirants during party primaries,” Yakubu lamented.
He emphasized the need for early intervention, warning that the credibility of the entire electoral process starts with transparent primaries.
“It is time to cast your net wide by focusing on the incidence of delegate-buying by aspirants during primaries,” he added.
“Only the candidates nominated by political parties are placed on the ballot paper for citizens to vote for on Election Day.”
INEC Prepares for Anambra, FCT Elections
Tuesday’s meeting, which brought together CSO leaders and INEC officials from across the country, also served as a platform to update stakeholders on INEC’s preparedness for upcoming elections.
The key elections on INEC’s 2025/2026 agenda include:
- Anambra State Governorship Election – Scheduled for November 8, 2025
- Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council Election – Set for February 21, 2026, where voters will elect six Chairmen and 62 Councillors
Yakubu revealed that party primaries for the Anambra election will take place between March 20 and April 10, 2025, emphasizing the importance of strict compliance with electoral laws.
CSOs Tasked with Strengthening Electoral Integrity
The INEC chairman called on civil society groups to intensify their monitoring efforts during party primaries to ensure compliance with electoral regulations.
He warned that if delegate-buying and vote trading are left unchecked, they could undermine democratic principles and compromise the credibility of future elections.
As INEC gears up for major electoral activities, Yakubu stressed that all stakeholders, including CSOs, political parties, and security agencies, must work together to ensure a free, fair, and credible electoral process.
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