General Elections: We Didn’t Take A Dime From Partners – INEC

 

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it did not receive cash support from international development partners to conduct the 2023 general election.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed this at a meeting with Civil Society Organisations on the review of the 2023 general election.

Yakubu gave the clarification to address impressions that the commission received huge sums of money from development partners for the election.

The INEC chairman emphasised that the commission only received cash support from the federal government.

“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.

“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,” he said.

Yakubu revealed that the support the commission received from development partners came in the form of technical advice, civic and voter education, organisation of meetings and capacity-building workshops as well as the publication of documents.

“On this note, it is appropriate for the commission to express its appreciation to civil society organisations and development partners for their enormous support to the commission during the 2023 general election.

“This came in the form of technical advice, civic and voter education, organisation of meetings and capacity-building workshops, as well as the publication of documents,” he added.