INEC Says That The 2023 Elections May Be Cancelled If… 

The INEC chairman assures Nigerians that the commission would step up measures to guarantee that election officials and materials are adequately protected.

By Omotayo Olutekunbi

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has emphasized that the country’s present security situation may impact how the general elections in 2023 are conducted if it persists unchecked.

The commission’s chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, indicated on January 9, 2023, in Abuja during the vetting of election security training materials that if nationwide insecurity does not decrease, the next election may be called off or delayed.

The INEC boss, who was represented by the Chairman, the Board of Electoral Institute, Abdullahi Zuru said: “if the insecurity is not monitored and dealt with decisively, it could ultimately culminate in the cancellation and/or postponement of elections in sufficient constituencies to hinder declaration of election results and precipitate a constitutional crisis.”

The Chairman of the Board of the Electoral Institute, Abdullahi Zuru, spoke on behalf of INEC’s top official.

However, Mahmood gave Nigerians assurances that the commission will step up efforts to guarantee that thorough security is given for poll people, materials, and processes.

He said, “We all appreciate the fact that election security is vital to democratic consolidation through the provision of enabling environment for the conduct of free, fair, credible and inclusive elections and thus strengthening the electoral process.

“Consequently, in preparations for the 2023 general elections, the commission is not leaving anything to chance in ensuring that intensive and extensive security is provided for election personnel, materials, and processes.

“This is particularly significant to the commission given the current insecurity challenges in various parts of the country and the fact that the National Youth Service Corps members constitute the core of the polling unit election officials.

“This must not be allowed to happen and shall not be allowed to happen.

“Therefore, security personnel in particular and all elected officials, in general, must be security conscious and alert to unusual activities in their environment and must be fully equipped to deal with any challenge at all times.”

Election day for the 2023 presidential, senate, and house of representatives is set on Saturday, February 25, 2023.

Elections for the governor and state house of representatives would take place two weeks after the exercise.