Professor Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said that the commission did not receive any direct funding or cash support from international development partners.

Yakubu said the clarifications became necessary to correct the impression that the commission received funding support from development partners for the 2023 general election.

He spoke on Monday at a meeting with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Abuja, as part of the commission’s post-election review.

The INEC Chairman said it was the commission’s policy not to receive direct funding or cash transfers from sources other than the federal government.

According to him, the support received from international partners 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.

“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,” he said.

“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.” Said the INEC Boss

Meanwhile, the INEC chairman said the commission received 538 requests –504 domestic and 34 foreign– for accreditation as observers in the build-up to the 2023 elections.

 “For the 2023 General Election, the Commission received 538 requests (504 domestic and 34 foreign) for accreditation as observers. After a thorough evaluation of the requests, only 228 groups (190 domestic and 38 foreign) met the requirements for accreditation.” Yakubu said.