INEC urges EFCC to trace, track funding sources for political parties

Worries over 370,00 unclaimed voter cards in Imo
Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmud Yakubu, has charged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to trace and track sources of funding for political parties.

Yakubu, who spoke when the EFCC Acting Chairman, Ibrahim Magu, paid a courtesy visit to INEC, insisted that the nation’s democracy was not for sale, as being suggested by cash-and-carry politicians and their apologists.
He disclosed that the commission recently promoted 7,330 staff to encourage hard work and efficiency.

Yakubu noted that the commission was worried over buying of votes at polling units and cautioned that it would not tolerate the practice, even as he called on politicians to stop open votes buying.

He added that INEC was also worried about the source of funding for political party, saying there was a limit to spending on elections.

Speaking, Magu attributed the socio-political and economic woes bedeviling the country to the high level of corruption at all levels, describing corruption as a disaster capable of truncating the country’s democracy.

He stated that for Nigeria to succeed in every area, all citizens must brace up to the challenge by exposing corrupt politicians.

He assured that the EFCC would continue to support INEC, even as he emphasised the need for all stakeholders to mobilise Nigerians for the success of the 2019 general elections.

Meanwhile, the Imo State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Prof. Francis Chukwuemeka Ezeonu, has expressed concern over the failure of the people to collect over 370,000 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in the 27 local councils of the state.

Ezeonu, who disclosed this during a sensitisation and voter education town hall meeting yesterday in Umuelemai, Isiala Mbano Council, urged the people, including monarchs, religious leaders, town union heads and youth leaders to encourage their people to register and collect their cards.

“We at the Imo State INEC are appealing to those who registered but have not collected their PVCs to go to their local councils where they registered and collect them. There are over 370,000 unclaimed PVCs. There is not going to be electronic voting in 2019,” he added.

Ezeonu disclosed that only the card readers would be used to vote, noting that the commission was carrying out an upgrade of the operations systems.

Speaking, electoral officers of Okigwe and Isiala Mbano local councils, Oranebo Ethelbert and Okike Emeka, said INEC had recorded successes since the commencement of the mobile ward-to-ward registration exercise.

While Emeka regretted that 11,595 PVCs were yet to be collected in Isiala Mbano, Ethelbert disclosed that 17,464 PVCs have not been collected in Okigwe.