We Have Recieved Fund From CBN – INEC Chairman, Yakubu Confirms

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu on Thursday confirmed that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has released funds needed for the runnings of the 2023 general elections.

Naija News gathered that Yakubu confirmed this during a press conference in Abuja.

The funds were released by the apex bank days after Yakubu met with the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, to address the need for cash for logistical operations in the conduct of the elections.

He said, “The bulk of the small amount of cash that we have requested from the Central Bank of Nigeria is right now being released to the commission’s offices nationwide.

“In fact, a substantial part of it has already been received by our offices nationwide and this has greatly facilitated the movement of sensitive materials yesterday from the branches of the Central Bank to our local government areas.

“By tomorrow, we’ll batch them and then move them on Friday to the registration area centres. And then on Saturday early morning, they’ll be moved to the polling units for voting.”

Speaking on security, ahead of the electoral process, Yakubu assured Nigerians that security agencies are on the ground for the elections to provide adequate protection for voters, staff and observers.

He said, “Several of the commission’s facilities were attacked by unknown assailants in various parts of the country.

“I am pleased that we have fully recovered from these attacks and we have been further assured that our facilities, staff, voters, observers, the media, and citizens will be safe during the election.

“The ban on the use of mobile phones and photographic devices at the voting cubicles is still in force. Our arrangement of placing the ballot boxes near the voting cubicles and away from the party agents remains.”