FG debunks threats to 2023 polls, says no cause for alarm

By our correspondent 

The Federal Government has dismissed speculation that the February 2023 general elections may not hold due to  security concerns. 

Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed gave the position of the government  in Abuja Tuesday  in an opening remark at the 17th edition of the Scorecard Series of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

The previous editions of the series had featured 16  Ministers who presented their respective Ministries’ scorecards. 

They included the Ministers of Works and Housing, Transportation, Aviation, Interior, Agriculture and Rural Development, Finance, Budget and National Planning, Water Resources and Environment. 

Others were Mines and Steel Development, Science, Technology and Innovation, Power, Niger Delta Affairs, Women Affairs, Sports and Youth Development, Police Affairs,and Minister of State, Petroleum Resources.

In his opening remark at yesterday’s series, Lai Mohammed reacted to enquiries from the media over an earlier widely circulated report credited to the National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakubu that the 2023 general elections may face a serious threat of cancellation due to alleged security concerns.

He said the position of the Federal Government remains that the 2023 elections will be held as planned. “Nothing has happened to change that position, “ he said. 

“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.

He also said that elections will hold as planned, and there is no going back, and called on the general public to disregard such rumour.