Voters’ Enthusiasm Is High And So Is Our Determination – INEC Gives Fresh Update On 2023 Election

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has once again reiterated that Nigeria’s 2023 presidential election will hold as planned on February 25.

The electoral body Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu stated this at a media briefing on Friday in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.

His assurances are coming hours before the electoral poll slated for Saturday, February 25, 2023.

“Generally speaking, the situation is calm in the country as far as our preparation is concerned,” Yakubu said.

According to him, there has been no incident of insecurity involving the personnel and materials deployed by the commission.

“Voter enthusiasm is high and so too is our determination to conduct credible elections. Tomorrow is election day,” he declared.

 INEC Suspends Enugu East Senatorial Election

Meanwhile, Yakubu, has announced the suspension of the Enugu East Senatorial District election.

Naija News reports that the INEC Chairman made this known at a media briefing on Friday in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.

According to him, the decision to halt the election in the senatorial district became necessary with the gruesome murder of the Labour Party (LP)’s senatorial candidate for the district, Oyibo Chukwu.

Yakubu said the Labour Party reached out to the electoral body to convey its intention to provide a replacement and go ahead with the poll at a new date.

Recall, gunmen killed Chukwu and burnt the senatorial candidate with five supporters who were with him inside his car in the Eke-Otu Amechi-Awkunanaw area of Enugu.

Speaking on Friday, the INEC chairman said the Labour Party will replace Chukwu.

He said, “The party also conveyed its intention to participate in the election for that constituency by replacing its deceased candidate. This request is in line with the provision of the law – Section 34, Sub-Section 1 of the Electoral Act 2022.”

“The Labour Party has provided satisfactory evidence of the death of its candidate. Consequently, the commission has suspended the election in the Senatorial district as provided by law.

We have already communicated this decision to our Enugu State office.

“Therefore, there will be no senatorial election in Enugu East Senatorial District made up of six local government areas, 77 wards and 1,630 polling units tomorrow, February 25, 2023.