The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has urged civil society organisations (CSOs) to pay close attention to the conduct of party primaries and not only the general elections.

Yakubu said this at the first quarterly meeting with CSOs at the commission’s headquarters yesterday in Abuja.

He said: “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.

“After all, 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.”

Yakubu announced the timetable for the Anambra State governorship election scheduled for November 8, this year, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections scheduled for February 21, 2026.

He said: “As you are aware, the commission released the timetable and schedule of activities for the Anambra State governorship election on October 17, last year. As required by law, the Notice of Election was published on November 13, 2024, that is, 360 days before the date fixed for the election scheduled to hold on November 8, 2025.

“The next activity is the conduct of party primaries, which begins next month. All political parties interested in fielding candidates for the election shall commence their primaries on March 20, 2025 and end three weeks later on April 10, 2025. The commission’s preparation for the election is on the agenda for this meeting.

“Similarly, the commission has released the timetable and schedule of activities for the Area Council election in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), which is the only part of the country where INEC conducts local government election.

“The election will hold on Saturday, February 21, 2026. As you are aware, the four-year tenure of the six chairmen and 62 councillors will end next year. The last Area Council election was held on February 12, 2022.” (The Nation)