INEC To Commence Bi-Weekly Briefing On 2023 Elections, Warn Parties, Candidates Ahead

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that it will commence bi-weekly, weekly media briefings on the forthcoming 2023 general elections.

The commission said daily briefings on the exercises would only commence a week preceding the election week. Accordingly, the electoral body warned political parties and their candidates to conduct their campaigns peacefully, eschewing divisiveness, rancour and violence.

Naija News reports that the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, made the call in his message titled “100 Days To The 2023 General Election“ on Wednesday in Abuja.

The INEC boss admonished Nigerians to participate fully in all electoral activities, particularly the ongoing display of the Register of Voters for claims and objections and the collection of Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs).

Yakubu, however, warned that the commission would not succumb to pressures to drop the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV).

He said deploying modern technology would promote free, fair, credible and verifiable elections.

Yakubu said: “As Nigerians are aware that election is a multi-stakeholder activity. We will continue to play our part diligently and conscientiously.

“We appeal to all stakeholders and, above all, citizens to play their part so that, working together, we can have the elections that Nigerians yearn for and the world expects from us.

”It is exactly 100 days today before polling units open at 8.30 am on Feb. 25 for national elections (Presidential and National Assembly) and two weeks later on March 11, for State elections (Governorship and State Houses of Assembly).

“Once again, another General Election is upon us, the 7th since the restoration of democracy in Nigeria in 1999.

“Over the last 23 years, we have made steady progress in the twin areas of electoral reform and election administration.”

The INEC boss admitted that there is a lot of work ahead of the electoral system. He said, however, that elections in Nigeria are getting better, and citizens’ confidence in the process is increasing.

“As I have said repeatedly, the Commission’s allegiance is to Nigeria,” Yakubu said.

He said Nigerians want free, fair, credible and verifiable elections supported by technology, guaranteeing transparent accreditation and uploading polling unit results for citizens to view in real-time on Election Day.

Yakubu said that INEC would continue with its regular engagement with political parties, civil society organisations, the media and other critical stakeholders.

He said that, above all, Nigerians deserve the right to know about the progress INEC was making and the challenges (if any) it confronted in preparing for the General Election.