The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), says it did not receive cash support from international development partners for the conduct of the 2023 general election.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, made this known on Monday in Abuja at a meeting with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) on the review of the 2023 general election.
He stressed the clarification became imperative to correct the impression in some sections of the public that the Commission received huge sums of money from development partners for the election.
While expressing the Commission’s appreciation to the civil society organisations and development partners, Yakubu maintained that as a longstanding rule, the commission only received cash support from the federal government.
He explained that the support 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.
Yakubu said: “However, 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.
“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.”