INEC Holds Consultative Meeting with Civil Society Organizations on Upcoming Elections

Abuja, Nigeria – The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) held its first quarterly consultative meeting of 2025 with civil society organizations (CSOs) on Tuesday, February 4th, 2025, at the INEC Conference Room in Abuja. Professor Mahmood Yakubu, INEC Chairman, opened the meeting, extending his new year’s wishes and expressing gratitude for the CSOs' continued participation.

Professor Yakubu highlighted key upcoming electoral activities. The Commission's preparations for the Anambra State Governorship election, scheduled for November 8th, 2025, were a primary focus. Party primaries, a crucial stage in the electoral process, are set to begin on March 20th and conclude on April 10th, 2025. The timetable and schedule for this election were released on October 17th, 2024, with the Notice of Election published on November 13th, 2024, as mandated by law.

Additionally, the Commission discussed the timetable and schedule for the Area Council elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), scheduled for February 21st, 2026. These elections will determine the successors to the six Chairmen and 62 Councillors whose four-year terms expire next year.

Professor Yakubu urged CSOs to expand their monitoring efforts to include party primaries, emphasizing the importance of scrutinizing the nomination of candidates. He noted that CSOs' previous reports consistently highlighted concerns about vote-buying during elections and suggested actionable steps to mitigate this. The Chairman now called for similar attention to be paid to the issue of "delegate-buying" during primaries, urging intensified advocacy in support of law enforcement efforts to curb this practice.

The meeting served as a platform for INEC to engage with CSOs, fostering collaboration and transparency in the electoral process. Further details about the discussions and decisions made during the meeting are expected to be released by INEC.