INEC: We Didn’t Receive Money from Development Partners to Conduct 2023 Polls

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja 

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has clarified that it did not receive any direct funding or cash support from international development partners for the conduct of the 2023 general election.

The commission noted that the clarification became imperative to correct the impression in some sections of the public that it received huge sums of money from development partners for the election.

The Chairman of the commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed this on Monday in Abuja at a meeting with civil society organisations (CSOs) on the review of the 2023 general election.

He said while the commission was able to commence preparation for the election on time because of the Electoral Act 2022, there were many challenges encountered before and during the elections. 

Yakubu noted that the severe cash and fuel situations were compounded by the perennial insecurity nationwide. 

He stressed that the impact on the deployment plans by the commission was compounded by the behaviour of some INEC officials in the field, making logistics management particularly challenging. 

The INEC chairman noted that the deployment of thugs by some political actors made election day administration difficult in a number of places. 

Yakubu expressed the commission’s appreciation to civil society organisations and development partners for their enormous support during the 2023 general election. 

He explained that the support 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.

Yakubu stated: “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 organisations 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 chairman expressed optimism that the relationship between the commission and the development partners, as well as CSOs would continue to have this type of productive partnership in the future.