With just 16 days left until the presidential election, INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu announced that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited will make more than 900 of its mega stations available to supply petrol for the movement of election personnel and materials. Yakubu disclosed this to State House correspondents after briefing President Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) and other members of the Federal Executive Council at the State House, Abuja. He said the arrangement is part of broader efforts to tackle fuel shortages and naira scarcity ahead of the February 25 and March 11 elections.
The chairman explained that the commission had already secured assurances from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Ministry of Petroleum Resources. “We faced two main challenges,” Yakubu said. “First, the unavailability of petroleum products. After meeting with the National Union of Road Transport Workers, we consulted the leadership of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, and a technical committee was formed. They will allow us to use their over 900 land and floating mega stations nationwide to stock fuel, ensuring that our personnel and materials can move without hindrance during the elections.”
“The second challenge is the currency issue,” he continued. “In a recent engagement with the Governor of the CBN, we were assured that the commission will not encounter any cash constraints, as all our accounts—national and state—are held with the apex bank.” Yakubu concluded that these solutions would enable the elections to proceed as scheduled on February 25 for the national vote and March 11 for the state elections.
He declined to comment on the Supreme Court’s decision restraining the federal government from implementing the new naira policy. His briefing came two days before an emergency Council of State meeting, convened by President Buhari on Friday, to address the national crisis caused by the new naira and petrol shortages, which have sparked protests across the country. Earlier in the week, Yakubu met with National Security Adviser Babagana Monguno and CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele, expressing concerns that the cash crunch could affect election logistics. Both officials assured him of adequate security and cash availability. Yakubu is also expected to appear before the Council of State alongside Inspector General of Police Usman Baba to discuss the February 25 presidential and National Assembly elections and the March 11 governorship and state assembly polls.
In Plateau State, INEC reported 4,989 polling units. Resident Electoral Commissioner Dr. Oliver Agundu, speaking in Jos at a round‑table on preventing election violence, said the commission had cleaned its register of underage voters and would deploy electoral materials and personnel promptly. “We are ready for the 2023 poll,” Agundu asserted. “Over 80 percent of the pressure has been taken off the commission. Sensitive materials have already arrived, and all trained personnel will be deployed before February 23. We have removed underage voters from the register and remain committed to fairness, transparency, and credibility. All we need now is cooperation from everyone.”
James Christoff, the Canadian High Commissioner to Nigeria, emphasized the importance of voter integrity, stating that Nigeria’s democracy must align with global best practices.
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