2023: Elections under threat - INEC

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof Mahmood Yakubu has expressed concern that the 2023 elections risk being canceled or postponed if the security challenges across the country are not improved.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has however replied to the INEC boss, saying that only free, fair, and credible elections will be acceptable.

Yakubu, represented by the Chairman of the Board of Electoral Institute, Abdullahi Zuru, spoke at the validation of election security training resources on Monday, January 9, 2023.

He 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 elections results and precipitate a constitutional crisis."

“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 electoral 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.”

BEB