The chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu has warned that the upcoming elections could be cancelled or delayed if the country’s ongoing security issues are not resolved.
Yakubu spoke on Monday at an event in Abuja for the validation of election security training materials. He was represented by the chairman of the Board of Electoral Institute, Abdullahi Zuru.
He said that if the country’s security situation doesn’t get better, there is a real risk that the upcoming elections may be called off.
“The insecurity could ultimately result in the cancellation if it is not monitored and dealt with decisively.”
The INEC boss however assured all stakeholders that the commission is not leaving any stone unturned in ensuring that security is provided for election personnel and materials.
He said INEC appreciated the fact that election security is vital to democratic consolidation through the provision of enabling environment for the conduct of free, fair, credible and inclusive elections and thus strengthening the electoral process.
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He added, “Consequently, in preparations for the 2023 general elections, the commission is not leaving anything to chance in ensuring that intensive and extensive security is provided for election personnel, materials and processes.”
But in a quick reaction, the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Debo Ologunagba said that the commission’s warning vindicated the opposition party which he said has been raising the alarm over electoral violence.
He said nothing short of free, fair and credible elections will be acceptable to the party.
“We have been talking about this to the press. When we stated this a long time ago, people said it was a false alarm. The security agencies and President Muhammadu Buhari who promised the whole world that there would be peace should remember that nothing short of a free, fair and credible election will be acceptable.
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