INEC Boss Briefs FEC, Says 2023 Elections Will Hold As Scheduled

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has again assured Nigerians that the 2023 general elections will hold as scheduled despite the fuel scarcity and Naira swap crisis.

Chairman of the INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, gave the reassurance on Wednesday to State House correspondents shortly after briefing the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

According to him, the Commission had already sorted out the challenges initially posed by the scarcities.

He explained that the briefing was statutory and that a follow-up meeting with the Council of State would hold on Friday, February 10, adding that the Commission had already found answers to the two prevailing major concerns in the country.

He said, “It is a general briefing, it’s in keeping with the tradition that on the eve of major elections, general election in particular, the Commission is invited to brief Council. 

“It is also invited to brief the Council of State. The briefing for the Council of State is going to take place on Friday the 10th. So basically, it’s about the readiness of the Commission to conduct the elections.

“So, we took members of Council through all the preparations that we have put in place for the election and the few challenges that we are facing and the steps that we have taken to address those challenges.

“I can tell you two of these challenges quickly. The first one is availability of petroleum products. We had a meeting with the National Union of Road Transport Workers and they raised that as an issue of concern. Immediately after that meeting, we interfaced with the leadership of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and right now, there is a technical committee working.

“The idea is for them to avail us the use of their over 900 land mega stations as well as floating mega stations nationwide, for the purpose of stocking products to ensure that the Commission doesn’t suffer any encumbrances in movement of personnel and materials for the elections.

“The second one is the currency issue and again, we had an engagement yesterday with the Governor of the Central Bank and he assured us that the Commission will not suffer any encumbrances on that score.

“Fortunately for us, all our accounts, national and state, are held by the apex bank. So we raised those challenges, but we have found a solution to those challenges. So, be rest assured that the election will hold as scheduled on the 25th of February for national and on the 11th of March for the state election,” Prof. Yakubu declared.