By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
Worried by the negative impacts the continued attacks on its offices across the country will have on the conduct of the 2023 general election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has told the visiting members of the ECOWAS Elders Forum that the main source of concern for the elections is the prevailing insecurity in the country.
This is even as the Commission has demanded that the attacks on its offices in Nigeria must stop and the perpetrators swiftly apprehended and prosecuted.
INEC Chairman Professor Mahmood Yakubu made this call at a meeting with the West Africa Elders’ Forum held at the Conference Room of INEC in Maitama , Abuja on Monday, December 5, 2022.
According to him: “In less than two weeks, three of our Local Government offices were attacked across the country, bringing the total number of such attacks to seven in the last four months.
“While we want to reassure Nigerians that we will recover from these attacks, and the election will proceed as scheduled, we would like to appeal to all citizens to see the Commission’s facilities as national asset.
“It is our collective responsibility to join hands in protecting them. The attacks must stop and the perpetrators swiftly apprehended and prosecuted”.
Also, Yakubu told the entourage of the ECOWAS Elders’ Forum comprising the former President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Ernest Bai Koroma; former Vice President of Gambia, Fatoumata Jallow-Tambajang among others that with 81 days to the President and National Association (NASS) elections, the Commission’s preparations are approaching concluding stages.
Said he: “We are conducting the 2023 General Election with a new Electoral Act and several innovations in voter accreditation and result management. We are confident in our processes but we will not be complacent. Responsibilities within our control are handled diligently”.
Speaking further Yakubu said: “It is my honour to welcome Your Excellency and other members of the Forum to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Your visit is a source of encouragement to us and a clear indication of the importance of Nigeria’s forthcoming elections to our sub-region and beyond.
“We are fortunate in our sub-region to have respected former leaders who remain in the forefront of the advocacy for good governance anchored on credible and transparent elections.
“The fact that you have won democratic elections and in turn handed over power democratically at the end of their tenure is worthy of appreciation and commendation.
“That is why today, your voice is respected globally by the sheer force of personal example you set rather than any statutory authority.
“Many of you require no introduction. No democratic election is complete in our sub-region and beyond without your involvement as Heads of one observation mission or another. Only four months ago, President Goodluck Jonathan led the EISA observation mission to the General Election in Kenya. So too is President Koroma who led the African Union (AU) mission. I met with both respected leaders in Nairobi. In April last year, I also met President Koroma as the leader of the ECOWAS Election Observation Mission to Benin Republic.
“Similarly, about four years ago, we received Her Excellency Fatoumata Jallow-Tambajang as member of the ECOWAS Election Observation Mission to our 2019 General Election. As for His Excellency Mohamed Ibn Chambas, I had only this morning informed his successor in office, the Deputy Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel, about the Commission’s special relationship with UNOWAS made possible by the exemplary leadership of Ibn Chambas. Twice in 2018 and 2019, you made encouraging and supportive visits to the Commission.
“On this note, I must add that with respected leaders of the region coming together as elders for credible elections, I am confident that there will be less of mediation in conflict situations and more of election observation missions in peacetime. Apart from Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Liberia in West Africa are also holding their General Elections in 2023. Clearly, your work is cut out for you.
“Your visit is coming exactly 81 days to our General Election which will hold in two phases beginning with the national election (Presidential and National Assembly) holding on Saturday 25th February 2023, followed two weeks later by the State elections (Governorship and State Houses of Assembly) on Saturday 11th March 2023”
“Our preparations are approaching concluding stages. We are conducting the 2023 General Election with a new Electoral Act and several innovations in voter accreditation and result management. We are confident in our processes but we will not be complacent. Responsibilities within our control are handled diligently”.
Yakubu however said that there are a few areas of concern, the main one being the prevailing insecurity in the country. In less than two weeks, three of our Local Government offices were attacked across the country, bringing the total number of such attacks to seven in the last four months. While we want to reassure Nigerians that we will recover from these attacks, and the election will proceed as scheduled, we would like to appeal to all citizens to see the Commission’s facilities as national asset.
“It is our collective responsibility to join hands in protecting them. The attacks must stop and the perpetrators swiftly apprehended and prosecuted.
We look forward to hearing from our elders. We believe that your words of wisdom will be beneficial to our work”.
