2023 Elections under threat, INEC warns

Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, warned on Monday that the upcoming elections could be canceled or delayed if the country’s ongoing security issues are not resolved.

Yakubu addressed at the Monday event in Abuja for the validation of election security training materials. He was represented by the chairman of the Board of Electoral Institute, Abdullahi Zuru.

He said that if the country’s security situation doesn’t get better, there is a real risk that the upcoming elections may be called off.

“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 elections results and precipitate a constitutional crisis,” he said.

The INEC boss however assured all stakeholders that the commission is not leaving anything to chance in ensuring that security is provided for election personnel and materials.

He said INEC appreciated 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.

He added, “Consequently, in preparations for the 2023 general elections, the commission is not leaving anything to chance in ensuring that intensive and extensive security is provided for election personnel, materials and processes.

“This 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. Therefore, security personnel in particular and all electoral officials, in general, must be security conscious and alert to unusual activities in their environment and must be fully equipped to deal with any challenge at all times.”