On Monday, 13th February 2017, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) stated that preparations for the 2019 general elections have started. Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the Chairman of the Commission said to the House of Representative’s Committee on Electoral Matters that the preparation is coming early in order to guard against INEC being behind Schedule.

“At this point, we cannot put a figure to the budget for the elections (2019) until we complete the process of validating the strategic plan. “Therefore, we are likely to approach the executive and the National Assembly for supplementary budget in this 2017. “The supplementary aspect should incorporate something for the elections and in 2018; we will have it in the main proposals.” Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the Chairman of the Commission, said.

However, the current All Progressives Congress (APC) led Federal Government has barely 26 months left in its four year tenure and the Budget Office had given INEC N45bn to undertake its activities this year. Therefore, Yakubu said N20.9bn of the figure would go into personnel costs while another N19.1bn was proposed for elections that would be conducted this year.

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