The Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, has expressed the commission’s readiness for the conduct of the Presidential and National Assembly election on Saturday, February 25, 2023.
Yakubu stated this in Abuja, on Saturday, after a tour of the training centre for INEC’s ad-hoc staff or presiding officers at Government Secondary School Garki, and inspection of facilities for collation of votes at the International Conference Centre, ICC.
The INEC boss, who expressed satisfaction with progress made so far, assured that by this time next week, Nigerians will be voting in over 176,000 polling units for presidential and national assembly elections.
He also noted that the choice made by Nigerians for the next president of the country will also be announced at the ICC Abuja.
On the security situation in the country, he noted that protests over cash crunch is a security matter, which will be discussed with security agencies.
He noted that the commission has been given assurance by security agencies of their readiness to secure the polling environment across the country.
“As you know, we have our own role clearly cut out and others also have their own roles clearly cut out, but the most important thing is that we’re working together, and the security agencies have assured us that they will secure the environment for elections to vote peacefully nationwide. So we have no issues in that respect.
Yakubu also disclosed that the National Peace Committee will undertake the signing of the peace accord on Wednesday 22nd at 3:00pm ahead of the Saturday polls.
Speaking on logistics and other processes leading to the election, he said on transportation and movement of sensitive and non sensitive materials, the commission is good to go.
“While we’ll deploy our platforms, call it citizens contact centre, where citizens can ask questions, respond to issues or challenges in the field, and will be able to in turn, also respond speedily to give citizens a happy voting experience.
“So this is basically what we have for the media. There will be a place earmarked for those who wish to set up studios to be able to do so. And those of you who wish to bring your outside broadcasting bands will also accredit to bring your outside broadcasting vans.
“In essence, the 2023 general election is here. By this time next week, Nigerians will be voting in over 176,000 polling units of that process for presidential election. The choice made by Nigerians for the next president of the country will also be announced at this venue,” he said.
The INEC chairman also alayed concerns bothering on unavailability of cash, stating that “We visited the CBN last week on the issue of cash for payment of some of the services, not all, some of the services that we are going to engage on election day.
“The bulk of payment for goods and services is made through electronic transfer. But there are certain critical services that will be remunerated by cash; and that’s why we went to the CBN for and it’s a small percentage of the budget.
“The Central Bank has assured us that we will not suffer any encumbrances in that regard. So there are no issues with respect to that.”