The chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu on Thursday kept mute on details of his discussion with President Muhammadu Buhari on the adoption of direct primaries in the Electoral Act (amendment) bill, 2021 passed by the National Assembly.

Professor Yakubu who met with the House Committee on Appropriations behind closed doors argued that the commission does not have the cost implication of direct or indirect primaries based on political party basis.

The House had on Thursday, December 2, 2021 via a resolution passed after the debate on a motion of urgent public importance, sponsored by Chairman, House Committee on Customs and Excise, Hon. Leke Abejide asked the INEC Chairman to appear before the joint House Committees on Appropriations and Electoral Matters, over the speculation making the rounds that over N500 billion is required for political parties to conduct direct primaries ahead of the 2023 general elections.

While responding to questions during a media chat after the closed-door meeting, Professor Mahmood said: “INEC did not come up with any cost for the conduct of primaries per political parties by a direct method. We have had very good discussions with the committee on Appropriation of the National Assembly pursuant to the resolution of the House and what we discussed you will not hear from me. Maybe, the chairman of the committee will tell you.”

On the cost of the 2023 general elections, the INEC Chairman said: “Once the budget is finalised you will hear.”

On the cost of Direct and Indirect primaries, Professor Yakubu said: “This one I discussed with the committee. The committee may wish to tell you.”

While responding to the details of the letter sent to Mr. President, he said: “A letter was submitted to the President. I can’t divulge what I told the President.”

In his response to a question on the purported rejection of the Electoral Bill by the President, Professor Yakubu said: “Really? I am hearing it for the first time.”

While giving an update on the closed-door meeting, Chairman, House Committee on Appropriations, Hon. Mukhtar Batera, said: “In our discussions with the INEC Chairman, we wanted to know his requirements for the 2023 elections as well as the cost of direct or indirect primaries. On the primaries, when we discussed with him, he specifically told us the role of INEC in direct or indirect primaries which he said is just minimal.

“He (INEC Chairman) said the responsibility lies with all the political parties. He said party primaries are the role of political parties and not INEC. For direct primaries, what the INEC Chairman told us is that only the political parties have the responsibility on primaries and the funding of the primaries. We don’t know whether he rejected the bill or rejected the bill,” he observed.

(Nigerian Tribune)