INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu has acknowledged that the commission will continue to face challenges in conducting elections if other stakeholders, such as political parties and State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs), do not adhere to the rules. Speaking during a visit by the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, Yakubu emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts from all actors in the electoral process.
While INEC strives for improvements, he noted that civil society organizations (CSOs) need to focus more on scrutinizing political parties and the conduct of local government elections by SIECs, which often result in all candidates from the ruling party being declared winners. He pointed out that flaws in party primaries directly affect the broader electoral process, as INEC can only manage the secondary election using candidates chosen during those primaries.
Yakubu praised the civil society’s activism, acknowledging their contributions to democratic advancements in Nigeria. However, he urged them to expand their efforts to ensure all stakeholders, especially at the local level, follow proper electoral procedures. The team leader, Yinusa Ya’u, assured that CSOs are working to mobilize citizens for voter participation and peaceful elections, while also urging political parties to play by the rules to avoid undermining the process.
