James Harrison, Abuja
The Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu, has again reassured Nigerians that the 2023 general elections will not be postponed.
Yakubu assured that the general elections will hold as planned on February 25 and March 11, 2023.
Yakubu spoke shortly after briefing the Federal Executive Council presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday,
The INEC Boss who said that the briefing was in consonance tradition
listed the proactive measures put in place by the commission to address any emergent challenge that might affect the elections.
According to him, the briefing focused on the readiness of the commission to conduct the election and the Commission listed areas specifics issued such as availability of fuel and currency.
He said that the commission has been given assurances by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and the Central Bank of Nigerian on the availability of currency and petroleum product for the election.
He said, “It was a general briefing. On the eve of major elections, the commission is invited to brief the council. It is also invited to brief the council of state. The briefing with the council of state is going to take place on February 10.
“So basically, it is about the readiness of the commission to conduct the election. So, we took members of council through all the preparations that we have put in place for the election and the few challenges that we are facing and the steps we have taken to address those challenges.
“I can tell you two of these challenges quickly. The first one is availability of petroleum products. We had a meeting with the National Union of Road Transport Workers and they raised that as an issue of concern.
“ Immediately after that meeting, we interfaced with the leadership of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and right now there’s a technical community working.
“The idea is for them to avail use the use of their over 900 land mega stations as well as floating mega stations nationwide for the purpose of stocking products to ensure that the commission doesn’t suffer any encumbrances in movement of personnel and materials for the elections.
“The second one is the currency issue. Again, we had an engagement yesterday with the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria. And he assured us that the commission will not suffer an encumbrances on that score. Fortunately for us, all our accounts, national and state are with the apex bank.
“So, we raised those challenges and we have found a solution to those challenges.
“So, be rest assured that the elections will hold as scheduled on the 25th of February for national and on the 11th of March for the states elections.”
