The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said that the 2023 general elections may be canceled or postponed due to the current challenging security situation in the country.
The statement was made at the validation of election security training resources event, by the National Chairman of INEC, Mahmood Yakubu, who was represented by the Chairman, Board of Electoral Institute, Abdullahi Zuru, on Monday in Abuja.
“If the insecurity is not monitored and dealt with decisively, it could ultimately culminate in the cancellation and/or postponement of elections in sufficient constituencies to hinder declaration of election results and precipitate constitutional crisis,” he said.
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Nigeria is grappling with an intense situation of insecurity involving acts of terrorism that has touched almost every part of the country. Recently, INEC offices across the country have been attacked, resulting in the death of its officials in some cases.
The presidential election is billed to hold on February 25 while governorship and national assembly elections will take place on March 12, according to INEC’s timetable.
Against the backdrop of insecurity, resulting in the incessant attacks on INEC offices and its staff, Yakubu has repeatedly appealed to the federal government to double its efforts on security to ensure that there is peaceful conduct of the election. He said security is needed if the electoral umpire is expected to conduct a free, fair and credible election.
However, Yakubu the Commission is working to beef up security to protect its personnel and electoral materials, asking security agencies not to allow insecurity to scuttle the coming elections.
“We all appreciate the fact that election security is vital to democratic consolidation through the provision of enabling environment for the conduct of free, fair, credible and inclusive elections and thus strengthening the electoral process.
“Consequently, in preparations for the 2023 general elections, the commission is not leaving anything to chance in ensuring that intensive and extensive security are provided for election personnel, materials and processes,” he added.
Yakubu said it is particularly significant to the Commission given the current insecurity challenges in various parts of the country and the fact that the National Youth Service Corps members constitute the core of the polling unit election officials.
“This must not be allowed to happen and shall not be allowed to happen,” he added.
However, his statement has been perceived by a large section of Nigerians with suspicion. It is believed to be a ploy by Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to remain in power beyond May 29, 2023, even though the president has repeatedly said he does not want to remain in office beyond his tenure.
Many have pointed to 2015, when Nigeria was also having serious security challenges in the north, but elections were held in most affected places due to security measures put in place by Goodluck Jonathan’s administration. They said the present government should do the same to see that elections are successfully conducted across the country.