Why the General Election May Not Take Place This Year in 2023 – INEC

Why the General Election May Not Take Place This Year in 2023 – INEC

The general election, which is still months away, could be postponed, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), if the level of insecurity in some areas of the nation does not decrease.

On Monday, January 9, at the Validation of Election Security Training Resources in Abuja, Prof. Abdullahi Abdu Zuru, Chairman of the Board of Electoral Institute (BEI), spoke on behalf of INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.

He stated:

“We all appreciate the fact that Election Security is vital to democratic consolidation through 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 are provided for election personnel, materials and processes.

“This is particularly significant to the commission given the current insecurity challenges in various parts the country and the fact that the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members constitute the core of the Polling Unit Election officials.

“Moreover, 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 elections results and precipitate constitutional crisis. This must not be allowed to happen and shall not be allowed to happen.

“Therefore, security personnel in particular and all election 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.”

In order to achieve this, he claims that the Chairman of INEC and the National Security Adviser (NSA), Gen. Mohammed Babagana Monguno (retired), have jointly promised the public that favorable conditions will be created for the successful holding of the general election in 2023.

He added that the passage of the Electoral Act 2022 has resulted in a new electoral legal framework that will serve as a guide for the election of 2023.

NAN