On Monday, the Independent National Electoral Commission denied receiving cash assistance from international development partners to hold the 2023 general election. Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman of INEC, said this during a meeting with Civil Society Organizations on the evaluation of the 2023 general election.
Yakubu made the statement to allay concerns that the commission had received large sums of money from development partners in preparation for the election. He also indicated that the federal government simply provided cash assistance to the commission.
“However,” the chairman continued, “it is necessary to seize this opportunity to correct the public’s perception that the Commission received large 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 that the assistance took the shape of technical guidance, civic and voter education, meeting and capacity-building seminars, and the dissemination of papers.
“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.”
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