2023: Election must hold despite challenges – INEC declares

• Says new Electoral Act 2022 to govern poll

By Folorunso Alagbede, Abuja

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has reiterated its determination to hold next year’s general election as scheduled, notwithstanding the various security and other challenges starring the commission in the face.

Also, the Commission revealed that the election will be governed by a new Electoral Act 2022, which contains many progressive provisions that will enhance the capacity of the Commission to conduct elections and manage the electoral process better.

INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu asserted this stance at the public presentation of the 2022-2026 strategic plan and the 2023 Election Project Plan (EPP) yesterday in Abuja.

The Commission, Yakubu categorically, declared, will, by next week,conclude the revision of the Regulations and Guidelines for the Conduct of Elections to comply with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022.

He revealed that work has also commenced on the review of the manuals for the training of election duty personnel. 

Yakubu ,who admitted that the country is currently facing challenging times, assured that the election must hold in 2023. 

He however, noted that the responsibility of making sure that the elections hold as planned is a shared responsibility between the Commission and other relevant stakeholders.

Yakubu pointed out that although INEC plays a critical role, but that it (the Commission) cannot deliver the desired elections alone. 

He therefore appealed to all Nigerians to joins hands with the Commission in ensuring that a success is made of the process.

He therefore assured that INEC will continue to engage early and intensely with the security agencies to ensure the safety of its personnel and materials, accredited observers, the media and, above all, the voters. 

The INEC Chairman said, “Clearly, these are challenging times but we are determined that election must hold in 2023. However, this is a shared responsibility. 

“INEC plays a critical role but the Commission alone cannot deliver the elections we all desire. 

He said “I therefore appeal to all Nigerians to joins hands with us in ensuring that we make a success of the process.

“Let once again reiterate that the dates for all activities in the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2023 General Election are firm and fixed and all stakeholders are advised to take this into consideration in planning their activities. 

“By next week, the Commission will conclude the revision of the Regulations and Guidelines for the Conduct of Elections to comply with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022. 

“Work has also commenced on the review of the manuals for the training of election duty personnel. 

“With the planning processes virtually completed, the Commission will now focus its attention on election technology and election administration; and we are also aware of the security challenges and their impact on the electoral process. 

“We will continue to engage early and intensely with the security agencies to ensure the safety of our personnel and materials, accredited observers and the media and, above all, the voters”, he stressed.

Providing details about the 2023 general election, the Chairman pointed out that the election will be conducted for 1,491 constituencies nationwide made up of 1 presidential constituency, 109 senatorial districts, 360 federal constituencies, 28 governorship elections and 993 state constituencies.”

He explains further “The election will involve an estimated one million electoral officials (both permanent and temporary or ad hoc staff) deployed to 176,846 polling units in 8,809 Wards and 774 Local Government Areas across the country. 

“The election will be governed by a new Electoral Act 2022, which contains many progressive provisions that will enhance the capacity of the Commission to conduct elections and manage the electoral process better.

“To do this, the Commission relies on three key elements. First is the knowledge and experience gathered from the conduct of previous elections. Second is the use of innovations to enhance electoral integrity and improve voter experience. Third is the institutionalization of the culture of planning. 

“These elements have guided the Commission through three successive general and several off-cycle and bye elections. 

“Consequently, our elections are getting better, electoral outcomes less contentious, and voter experience of the electoral system increasingly more participatory and inclusive.

“The Strategic Plan 2022-2026 and the 2023 Election Project Plan drew lessons from, and thoroughly reviewed, the level of implementation of the last plans. “They build on the successes of the preceding plans, especially in the planning and conduct of the 2019 General Election as well as off-cycle and bye-elections. 

“Against the backdrop of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the current security situation in the country, both plans had to prioritize the institutionalization of the Commission’s processes for the effective delivery of its mandate by focusing on capacity-building, the promotion of professionalism, encouraging greater synergy among departments, improving efficient utilisation of resources, increased deployment of technology as well as greater sensitivity to threats to the electoral process as well as election personnel and infrastructure”.