The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday, lamented that the delay in passage of the 2017 budget is one of the challenges affecting its plan to acquire materials needed for the exercise most especially the Electronic Voting Machines (EVM), which it order for but yet to take possession of.
The chairman of the commission, Professor Mahmood Yakubu spoke at a Civil Society Organisation Strategy Meeting to Review Post 2015 Elections organised by a group, Independent Service Delivery Monitoring Group (ISDMG) held in Lagos.
Yakubu, who was represented by National Commissioner in Charge of Election and Party Monitoring, Professor Antonia Simbine said aside the delay, conflicting state priorities as well as the volatile foreign exchange market had negatively impacted on the work of the commission.
“Although INEC is now on first line charge, the delay in passing the budget and the envelope system being implemented in the face of recession and conflicting state priorities as well as the volatile foreign exchange market have negative impact on the work of the commission,” he said.
The INEC boss added that over seven million PVCs were yet to be collected blaming development on voter apathy in the country, saying the greatest challenges faced by the body was the general attitude of politicians that bordered on desperation for power and engagement in do- or- die politics.