The federal government has allayed the fears expressed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that assured that insecurity in the country could lead to the cancellation or postponement of the polls February 25 and March 11 elections.
Recall that INEC sounded the alarm on Monday, January 9, that the conduct of the 2023 elections hangs in the balance due to insecurity in the country.
“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.
“Moreover, if the insecurity is not monitored and dealt with decisively, it could ultimately culminate in the cancellation and/or postponement of elections in sufficient constituencies to hinder declaration of elections results and precipitate constitutional crisis. This must not be allowed to happen and shall not be allowed to happen,” INEC chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu said.
He therefore called on the security agencies and their personnel in particular and all election officials in general to up their game and be alert to unusual activities in their various domains.
“Therefore, security personnel in particular and all election officials in general must be security conscious and alert to unusual activities in their environment and must be fully equipped to deal with any challenge at all times,” he added.
However, the minister of information and culture, Mr. Lai Mohammed said at the 17th edition of the PMB scorecard series (2015-2023) held yesterday in Abuja that there was nothing to fear.
He said INEC was working with security agencies to ensure peaceful conduct of the polls and that there was no cause for alarm.
“Let me seize this opportunity to respond to inquiries from the media over a widely-circulated report credited to an INEC official that the 2023 general election faces a serious threat of cancellation due to insecurity. The position of the federal government remains that the 2023 elections will be held as planned. Nothing has happened to change that position. We are aware that INEC is working with the security agencies to ensure that the elections are successfully held across the country.
“The security agencies have also continued to assure Nigerians that they are working tirelessly to ensure that the elections are held in a peaceful atmosphere. Therefore, there is no cause for alarm,” he said.
