Electoral Act: INEC refutes House invitation on cost of conducting direct primaries

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Thursday refuted reports that the commission was invited to the House of representatives for clarification on the cost of conducting primaries in political parties.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Yakubu Mahmood, appearing before the House Committee on Appropriation in the National Assembly on Thursday, denied reports that the ‘N500 billion allocated for the conduct of direct primaries in the 2022 budget’ is the reason ‘President Muhammadu Buhari declined assent’ to the Electoral Act as amended.

Prof. Mahmood disclosed that he went to the National Assembly to brief the lawmakers on what INEC needs for the 2023 general elections.

The House Committee on Appropriations Chairman, Muktar Betara, noted that after the interaction with the INEC Chairman, it was clear that the adoption of direct primaries is within the jurisdiction of respective political parties.

While President Buhari was said not to have declined assent to the amended Electoral Act but still consulting, National Assembly members are not turning back on direct primaries.