The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says the 2023 General Election was conducted strictly with budgetary provisions from the Nigerian federal government.
INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmoud Yakubu stated this on Monday during a post-election review meeting with civil society organizations (CSOs) at the INEC Headquarters in Abuja.
Prof. Yakubu said the clarification was necessary to correct the erroneous belief that the commission received financial support from development partners or agencies.
The INEC boss, however, emphasized that the support received from the international partners was indirect through civil society organizations and implementing partners on election duties.
“It is appropriate for the Commission to express its appreciation to civil society organizations and development partners for their enormous support to the Commission during the 2023 General Election,” he said.
“This came in the form of technical advice, civic and voter education, organization of meetings and capacity-building workshops, as well as the publication of documents.
“However, 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 organizations and implementing partners working on elections.
“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.”
The INEC chairman commended CSOs for their role in the 2023 polls but expressed displeasure that only 67 election observer groups comprising 62 domestic and five foreign, have so far submitted their reports.
This represents about 30 percent of observer groups accredited for the election.
“For the 2023 General Election, the Commission received 538 requests (504 domestic and 34 foreign) for accreditation as observers.
“After a thorough evaluation of the requests, only 228 groups (190 domestic and 38 foreign) met the requirements for accreditation.
“However, so far, only 67 observer groups (62 domestic and five foreign) have so far submitted their observation reports which represent just about 30 percent of the accredited groups for the election.
“We urge all accredited observer groups that are yet to submit their reports to do so in earnest.
INEC’s series of quarterly consultative meetings with critical stakeholders will continue on Tuesday, 25 July, with political parties; Wednesday, 26 July, with the media; and Friday, 28 July, with the Inter-agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES).
