INEC chair to appear before reps over direct primary budget

The House of Representatives has resolved to invite the Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, for clarification on the budget for direct primaries ahead of the 2023 general elections. The National Assembly had passed and transmitted the harmonised version of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill to President Buhari for assent. The […]

The House of Representatives has resolved to invite the Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, for clarification on the budget for direct primaries ahead of the 2023 general elections.

The National Assembly had passed and transmitted the harmonised version of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill to President Buhari for assent.

The parliament in the Bill proposed direct primary as the sole mode for political parties to select their candidates for elections.

The House explained that Yakubu’s appearance would avail it with all the details for possible consideration to appropriate the needed funds.

The resolution followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance moved by Leke Abejide (APC, Kogi), yesterday.

He said, “The Bill is very critical to the sustainability of our democracy as the aspect of direct primaries will open up the political space for the youths and largely the members of all political parties to participate in all electoral processes starting from the primaries to the general elections.

“However, it is pertinent to give the opportunity to INEC Chairman to interface with both committees of INEC and Appropriations in order for the nation to know what will cost the country through INEC.

“There have been a lot of noise about the cost implications. People have been saying that it will gulp N500bn, but this is just hearsay. Nobody has ever sat down to check the actual cost that it is going to cost the nation.”