INEC needs N10bn to conduct 80 re-run elections

Mahmud Yakubu, chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Wednesday disclosed that N10 billion was required to conduct 80 re-run elections.

Yakubu stated this while giving update on the activities of the Commission during the 2015/2016 budge defence held at the instance of the House Committee on Electoral Matters, chaired by Aisha Dukku.

Yakubu explained that the amount would be used for various logistics and other activities for the re-run elections to be held between now and March 19, 2016.

The commission has limited time to conduct the re-run polls based on the provisions of the law and the court orders nullifying such elections.

He added that after the re-run polls, the commission would wait for the outcome of the various elections tribunals and court rulings before deciding on the next line of action.

While presenting the budget details, Amina Zakari, former INEC acting chairman, said N62.537 billion was allocated in 2015 out of which N18.99 billion was for personnel, N8 billion for capital projects, N2.5 billion for overhead and N28 billion was to support the 2015 general elections and other bye-elections.

For the 2016 fiscal year, N45 billion was proposed, out of which the N20.955 billion was for personnel, N19 billion for electoral recurrent, N2.260 billion for capital projects and N2.507 billion for overheads.

In her remarks, Aisha Dukku, chairperson of the Committee, requested for details of various purchases to be made by the commission as proposed in the budget.

Dukku, who pledged support for the commission to enable it commence early preparation for the 2019 elections, however stressed the need for the Committee to embark on oversight of all the state offices with the view to have first-hand information of the work environment.

KEHINDE AKINTOLA