he Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission,Prof Mamood Yakubu has charged Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to observe primaries conducted by political Parties ahead of the Ondo State Governorship election.
Prof Yakubu said this at the quarterly consultative meetings with CSOs at the INEC headquarters in Abuja.
The INEC boss who used the occasion to brief the CSOs on preparations for the Edo and Ondo state Governorship elections called for more engagement with the political parties especially in the area of advocacy for inclusivity for women, youths and Persons with Disability (PwD) that are under-represented in elective offices at National and State levels.
Prof Yakubu also expressed worry that some CSOs were yet to turn in their reports from the 2023 general elections and other subsequent polls.
Responding on behalf of the CSOs, the Executive Director, Sustainable Gender Action Initiative, Mufuliat Fijabi commended the INEC leadership for the engagement and called for more reforms in the electoral process.
Further briefing from INEC in the opening session of the meeting suggests that 16 political parties have so far indicated interest to participate in the November off-cycle governorship election in Ondo state.
