- Safiu Kehinde
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, has refuted claims of getting direct fund from the European Union and other development partners.
The INEC boss clarified the claim on Tuesday while receiving the new European Union Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot at the Commission’s conference room in Abuja.
As against the claims of direct funding from the development partners and the EU, Mahmood, in his speech, explained that the partners only provide indirect support in areas such as the publication of reports, retreats, and engagement with stakeholders amongst other.
He added that the core electoral activities are which include voter registration, production of Permanent Voters’ Card (PVC) training and renumeration of ad hoc staffs amongst others are directly funded by the Nigerian government.
“I would like to seize this opportunity to clarify a matter over which there is some misunderstanding in certain quarters.
“For the record, the Commission does not receive direct funding, and we do not have an account into which donor funds are warehoused.
“The EU and other development partners provide indirect support in areas such as the publication of reports, retreats, engagement with stakeholders, as well as consultancy and technical support services in various areas, through the implementing partners selected and appointed by them.
“Their support does not involve any direct funding of core electoral activities of the Commission such as voter registration, production of PVCs, training and renumeration of ad hoc staff, electoral logistics, and the procurement of sensitive materials, including election technology.
“These activities remain the sovereign responsibility of the Federal Government of Nigeria.” Mahmood said.
The INEC Chairman, however, lauded the European Union’s contribution to the sustenance of Nigeria’s democracy since 1999 while stressing that Gautier’s visit to the INEC head office further affirmed the long-standing relationship between the EU and the Commission.
“His Excellency Gautier Mignot. We note that INEC is the first agency you are visiting in Nigeria since your formal assumption of duty four days ago on 24th January 2025.
“This is a further affirmation of the long-standing relationship between the EU and the Commission.
“We worked very closely with your predecessors, and we look forward to sustaining the same relationship with you to strengthen Nigeria’s electoral democracy.
“For several years, particularly since the restoration of democracy in Nigeria in 1999, EU’s partnership with the Commission and other stakeholders has helped to consolidate the electoral and democratic process in Nigeria.
“There has been incremental improvement in our electoral process over the last six electoral cycles. However, we also appreciate that a lot of work lies ahead.” Mahmood stated.