By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Friday, revealed that ballot papers for possible run-off elections in the 2023 for the presidential and governorship elections have been printed.
An INEC National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee of the Commission, Barrister Festus Okoye made the revelation while speaking at a roundtable meeting with Senior Editors and Bureau Chiefs Chiefs in Abuja.
Okoye explained that the step was taken in order to meet the 21-day period given by the Electoral Act for second election if a winner fails to emerge at the first ballot.
Okoye explained that in the event that there was no run-off, the printed ballot papers would be destroyed immediately election petitions have been disposed off.
He however insisted that only the two candidates who met the requirements for run-off will participate in the second election.
Okoye explained that for a candidate to be declared winner in presidential election, the person must score the highest number of votes as well as a quarter in two-third states of the country.
The commissioner further gave conditions that qualify candidates to participate in the run-off.
His words, “Number one is that the candidate who scores the highest number of votes and secured 1/4 spread across the country, but not up to in the two-third states.
“The second person is the candidate who has the majority of votes in the highest number of states.
“So the constitution does not say the person who came second in the election, but the person who has majority of votes in the highest number of states,” Okoye stated.
The National Chairman warned that INEC’s permanent voter’s cards (PVCs) cannot be used for any other purpose order than elections.
“The PVC is superior to ATM. So INEC PVC cannot be used for banking purposes,” he said.
Never miss a moment! Get the stories shaping Nigeria, delivered straight to your phone. Follow Peoplesdaily Newspaper on WhatsApp for breaking news, exclusive reports, and the headlines everyone will be talking about, before anyone else.
