The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has said that INEC’s loyalty and allegiance is to Nigeria and Nigerians who want free, fair, credible and verifiable elections that ensure transparent accreditation and upliftment of election results through technology. for citizens to see in real time on election day.
This was the readiness of the commission to implement the Bimodal Voter Verification System and INEC Results Viewing Portal for the 2023 general elections he reiterated that there was no turning back.
The Head of Electoral Affairs stated in a statement issued on Wednesday, “A message from the INEC Chairman: 100 days to the 2023 general elections”.
Yakubu said INEC had made steady progress in electoral reform and electoral administration, adding that Nigerians’ confidence in the electoral process was increasing.
He further stated that the commission would update Nigerians on the progress being made and the challenges they were facing as the 2023 elections approached.
As a result, the INEC boss said the commission would begin bi-weekly media briefings, followed by weekly briefings, ending with daily meetings in the week leading up to the election.
He therefore called on Nigerians to fully participate in all electoral activities, including the continuous display of voter registration of complaints and objections and the collection of permanent voter cards.
Yakubu also called on political parties and other stakeholders to desist from violence and rancour and conduct campaigns peacefully while pledging that INEC will conduct elections responsibly and conscientiously.
The statement read: “Today there are 100 days left before polling stations open on Saturday, February 25, 2023 at 8:30 am for the national elections (Presidential and National Assembly) and two weeks later on Saturday, March 11, 2023 for the State elections. (Government and State Houses). assembly).
“Once again, we are facing another General Election, the seventh since the restoration of democracy in Nigeria in 1999. Over the past 23 years, we have made steady progress in both areas of electoral reform and electoral administration. Although there is still much work to be done, it is generally recognized that our elections are improving and citizens that their confidence in the process is increasing.
“As I have said time and again, the loyalty of the Commission is to Nigeria. Our loyalty is to Nigerians who want free, fair, credible and verifiable elections through technology, which ensures transparent accreditation and uploading of polling unit results for citizens to see in real time on Election Day. Therefore, the Bimodal Voter Verification System (BVAS) and the INEC Results Viewing Portal (IReV) were introduced. There is no turning back on the expansion of BVAS and IReV for the 2023 General Election.
“Also, we will continue our usual engagement with political parties, civil society organizations, the media and other critical stakeholders. Above all, Nigerians have the right to know about the progress we are making and the challenges (if any) we face in our preparations for the General Elections. Accordingly, in a couple of weeks, the Commission will begin bi-weekly media briefings, followed by weekly briefings as we get closer to the election. In the week before the elections, there will be daily talks.
“I take this opportunity to call on all citizens to participate fully in all electoral activities, in particular, to constantly display the Voter Register for complaints and objections, as well as in the collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVC). I also appeal to political parties and political leaders to conduct campaigns in a peaceful manner, avoiding division, anger and violence.
“As Nigerians know, elections are a multi-stakeholder activity. We will continue to play our role with responsibility and conscientiousness. We call on all stakeholders and above all the citizens to play their part by working together to deliver the election that Nigerians want and the world expects from us. let’s have them.”
