The Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) has declared its determination to proceed with the conduct of the February/March general elections, days after it expressed fears about the wave of general insecurity across the country.
Earlier, INEC had lamented that the ugly trend of pre-election violence could cause a constitutional crisis by way of the forced cancellation of election results or outright postponement of polls.
Presenting the register of voters to Chairmen and Secretaries of Nigeria’s 18 registered political parties yesterday in Abuja, INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu disclosed that the commission had been strengthened by assurances by Nigeria’s defense, security and intelligence architecture that it would ensure a conducive environment for the polls.
Yakubu noted that with just forty-four days to the General Election, and with the presentation of the register of voters to political parties, the Commission has now successfully implemented 11 out of the 14 activities on the timetable and schedule for the polls.
According to him, the implementation of other activities has proceeded in earnest. Yakubu added that at no time in the recent history of the Commission has so much of the forward planning and implementation been accomplished 44 days ahead of a General Election.
“Therefore, the Commission is not contemplating any adjustment to the election timetable, let alone the postponement of the General Election.”
Professor Mahmood Yakubu
Yakubu emphasized that the Presidential and National Assembly elections will hold on Saturday, February 25, 2023 while Governorship and State Assembly elections will hold two weeks later on Saturday, March 11, 2023.
“The repeated assurances by the security agencies for the adequate protection of our personnel, materials and processes also reinforces our determination to proceed. The 2023 General Election will hold as scheduled. Any report to the contrary is not the official position of the Commission.”
Professor Mahmood Yakubu
93.469 Million Registered Voters
INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu disclosed that 93.469 million voters have registered their names.
“Consequently, the register of voters for the 2023 General Election stands at 93,469,008. Of this cumulative figure, 49,054,162 (52.5%) are male while 44,414,846 (47.5%) are female. In terms of occupational distribution, students constitute the largest category with 26,027,481.”
Professor Mahmood Yakubu
For the 2019 General Election, Nigeria had a voter population of 84,004,084. After cleaning up the data from the last Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise (June 2021 – July 2022), 9,518,188 new voters were added to the previous register resulting in the preliminary register of 93,522,272 which was presented to Nigerians for claims and objections as required by law.
At the end of the period for claims and objections by citizens, the Commission received 53,264 objections from Nigerians to the prevalence of ineligible persons on the register by virtue of age, citizenship or death.
These names have been verified and removed from the register.
Professor Mahmood Yakubu revealed that the data on disability was not collected for previous registration.
However, the cumulative figure of 85,362 persons from the recent CVR indicates that there are 21,150 (24.5%) persons with Albinism; 13,387 (15.7%) with physical impediment and 8,103 (9.5%) are blind, Yakubu added.
The INEC boss added that already, substantial quantities of sensitive and non-sensitive materials have been deployed to various locations across the country.
Yakubu reiterated the commission’s commitment to a transparent, credible and inclusive 2023 General Election. He added that the commission will continue to take every step to protect the sanctity of the votes cast by citizens and to deal with infractions.
This includes the arrest and prosecution of persons who attempt to commit illegality at Polling Units on Election Day, be they under-aged voters or vote buyers.
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