2023 general election must be different from past ones, INEC Chairman vows

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has declared that the 2023 general election must be different from all previous elections in terms of preparations and readiness.
Similarly, the electoral body has expressed its commitment to deepening the culture of planning for elections.
The Chairman of INEC, Prof Mahmood Yakubu stated these yesterday at a meeting he held with the Resident Electoral Commissioners, RECs, at the Commission’s headquarters,in Abuja.
Prof Yakubu disclosed that as the commission continues to plan for the next general election, the RECs have been directed to compile and submit an inventory of all election materials in order to determine shortfalls and take early steps to ensure their adequacy and availability.
According to him, “only a few States are still outstanding.
He however reminded the States that are yet to make their submissions to do so by the end of this week.
Prof Yakubu pointed out that by so doing, the commission will be enable to address some of the logistics issues that have become a recurring decimal in the conduct of elections in the past.
The INEC Chairman said, “As we continue to plan for the next general election, the RECs have been directed to compile and submit an inventory of all election materials in order to determine shortfalls and take early steps to ensure their adequacy and availability.
“Only a few States are still outstanding.
“I wish to remind the States that are yet to make their submissions to do so by the end of this week.
“This will enable us to address some of the logistics issues that have become a recurring decimal in the conduct of elections in the past.
“The 2023 General Election must be different from all previous elections in terms of our preparations and readiness.
“For this reason, a committee involving the participation of some Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) was inaugurated a few weeks ago to review the Strategic Plan (SP) and the Strategic Programme of Action (SPA) to cover the next cycle of five years from 2022-2026. “The committee is making good progress. Its report should be submitted by the end of this month to enable the Commission engage stakeholders for its validation and subsequent implementation.
“I want to assure Nigerians that this will be accomplished long before the expiry of the current plan at the end of this year”, he said.
Among the issues discussed at yesterday’s meeting between the INEC Chairman and RECs were the review of the engagements with stakeholders on the proposed expansion of voters’ access to Polling Units so far as well as preparations for the commencement of the Continuous Registration of Voters (CVR). The two activities are inter-related.
“Our plan is to conclude the ongoing consultations and the actual work on the Polling Units in earnest so that the new locations will be made public for eligible registrants to choose where they wish to register and vote on Election Day”, Prof Yakubu said.