..urges political parties to eschew violence
Exactly 100 days to the 2023 general election, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, has appealed to political parties to conduct their campaigns peacefully, eschewing divisiveness, rancour and violence.
Yakubu, who made the appeal in a statement to all Nigerians on Wednesday, also called on all citizens to participate fully in all electoral activities, particularly the ongoing display of voters register and collection of Permanent Voters’ Cards, PVCs.
He reiterated the commission’s allegiance to Nigeria and loyalty to its citizens, “who want free, fair, credible and verifiable elections supported by technology, which guarantees transparent accreditation and upload of polling unit results for citizens to view in real-time on Election Day.”
He added that “It is for these reasons that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) were introduced. There is no going back on the deployment of BVAS and IReV for the 2023 General Election.”
“It is exactly 100 days today before polling units open at 8.30am on Saturday 25th February 2023 for national elections (Presidential and National Assembly) and two weeks later on Saturday 11th March 2023 for State elections (Governorship and State Houses of Assembly).
“Once again, another General Election is upon us, the 7th since the restoration of democracy in Nigeria in 1999. Over the last 23 years, we have made a steady progress in the twin areas of electoral reform and election administration. Although a lot of work still lies ahead, it is generally acknowledged that our elections are getting better and citizens’ confidence in the process is increasing.
“Similarly, we will continue with our regular engagement with political parties, civil society organisations, the media and other critical stakeholders. Above all, Nigerians deserve the right to know about the progress we are making and the challenges (if any) we confront in our preparations for the General Election. Accordingly, in a couple of weeks, the Commission will start bi-weekly media briefings followed by weekly briefings as we get closer to the election. In the week leading to the election, there will be daily briefings,” Yakubu said.
The INEC chairman described election as a multi-stakeholder activity, while appealing to all stakeholders and citizens to “play their own part so that working together, we can have the elections that Nigerians yearn for, and which the world expects from us.”