By Henry Umoru, Johnbosco Agbakwuru & Omeiza Ajayi, ABUJA

IN SPITE of the raging waves of insecurity in the country and the killing of one of its staff on voter registration duty last week in Imo State, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has vowed to continue with its preparations for next year’s General Elections, declaring that the exercise must hold.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed, yesterday, in Abuja at the official presentation of the INEC Strategic Plan 2022-2026 and the INEC Election Project Plan for the 2023 General Election.

The election umpire spoke as President Muhammadu Buhari expressed sadness over the persistent insecurity in the country, which the nation’s security agencies have been unable to end, according to the National Security Adviser, Major General Babagana Monguno, retd.

The President, who was not happy that his previous directives to the military to end insecurity in the country had not yielded many results, further directed all the operational and intelligence agencies to rescue unhurt all kidnapped persons by terrorists, including those in the Abuja-Kaduna bound train.

Briefing State House correspondents after a three and half hours meeting of the National Security Council presided over by the President at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the NSA said Buhari cannot be happy when people are being killed on a daily basis.

No going back on 2023 polls – INEC

The INEC boss said 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 prioritise the institutionalisation of the Commission’s processes for the effective delivery of its mandate by focusing on capacity-building, 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.

“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. Clearly, these are challenging times but we are determined that the 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. I, therefore, appeal to all Nigerians to join hands with us in ensuring that we make a success of the process,” Yakubu pleaded.

He said 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.”

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2022/04/insecurity-nothingll-stop-2023-polls-inec/

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I pity those adoc staff

It's alright

Na Corpers I de pity

Wow

Ok

Says INEC chairman. You mean a man who would sit in a cozy office in Abuja sipping tea and looking ways to tally falsified results?

Tell us something else, Mr. Man!

This is same insecurity that buhari used as to campaign as part of his manifesto in 2015. Same insecurity Is a concern in an election that will be conducted in his time as president in 2023. Nigeria is on a reverse gear

The Late General Muhammed Abubakar Sani Abacha said, “Any Insurgency that lasts more than 24 hours, a government official has a hand in it.”boko haram once said someone that is now a president should dialogue for them.so nobody should worry election will hold because the people in charge of insecurity in this country will bring it under control when the time comes.but don’t vote for this useless party called APC

My believe is nobody has a clue on how to better Nigeria, they are just doing try and error. Because there's no room for impeachment that why any presidency can't be bothered about nation value

This is sacrosanct and nobody can change it unless we are looking for interim government

Hmmm

Fear woman

Mugu don budget how much he go steal from election fund, therefore even if millions are killed it won't stop his business

This coming election will be very terrible e no go normal at all

I pray you are alive by then...

EA. Adeboye talk still dey on ground tho

Oluwa a wa pelu wa

popefuse:
My believe is nobody has a clue on how to better Nigeria, they are just doing try and error. Because there's no room for impeachment that why any presidency can't be bothered about nation value

They all know. They know the solution to insecurity and power issues. But it becomes rocket science because the people causing insecurity are at rhe very top of government, also the people involved in inadequate power supply are also in government. How do you fight yourself, is that possible?

How will insecurity not stop 2023 polls?.. the corpers and ad hoc staff that'll be posted by INEC are not human beings or what?
Elections will likely not hold in 2023 if the issue of terrorism persists cos it poses big risk to life of voters and the INEC officials that'll be out in the field. Govt. must find solution to the security issues now before next year's general elections to save lives.

Many Iives will be cut short

why won't it stop during that period when they're working for the candidates

Hmm. So much to fear for this coming year

Hope the INEC Chairman will send his children to Zamfara,Kaduna,Maiduguri,Yobe or Niger States as INEC election staff.

Y

Oga Inec chairman..it is simply because you won't be in field operation like the ad hoc staff members

Why will he not say that when u will be in ur Ac office while sending ur sheeps to die on the battlefield

The attempt to use insecurity to extend Buhari's tenure will fail. Kudos to the Inec Chairman

Amen!

Lol…these ones no even believe say insecurity fit end before then sef

Because he will not be affected. In Nigeria, life of people doesn't matter anymore.