The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) expressed optimism on Wednesday that election materials and officials would arrive early for the presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for February 25. Historically, Nigerian elections have been plagued by late arrivals of materials and officials, often reaching polling units hours after voting has begun. INEC, however, assured that this election would be different, having put in place the necessary logistics to open polls on time.
INEC Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Victor Aluko, made these assurances during a media and civil‑society roundtable on the 2023 elections, themed “Avoiding landmines, overcoming obstacles and conducting credible elections,” organized by the International Press Centre in Abuja. He explained, “With the system we have put in place, the logistics arrangement, and the employment of credible electoral officials, I don’t see anyone getting to the polling units late. We usually activate our racks and move officials there the night before the election so that, early in the morning, they can proceed to poll units within the registration areas. We do not anticipate a situation where they will arrive late—it won’t happen, I assure you.”
Addressing concerns about fuel and naira scarcity and their possible impact on the elections, Aluko said INEC had visited officials of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria to express its worries. He expressed optimism that the assurances given by both agencies would be acted upon.
Aluko also urged eligible voters to use INEC’s online portal to find their polling units. This advice follows the commission’s decision to relocate some voters from overcrowded polling stations to less congested ones within the same area, aiming for a stress‑free voting experience. “The commission has launched ‘Operation Know Your Polling Units’ on its website so voters can see where they will vote. We have mobilized all Local Government Area officials to engage community and political leaders to sensitize voters,” he said. “A directive has been issued to all electoral officials that, before the first election on February 25, the voter register will be posted for eligible voters to confirm their names. For polling units that may be farther from voters’ usual locations, we have community members and political leaders on the ground to assist. If we put all this together, I think we are ready.”
Concluding, Aluko called on the nation to avoid creating “landmines and obstacles” for voters as they prepare to cast their ballots.
Samson Itodo, Executive Director of Yiaga Africa, voiced concern over recent court judgments on election matters, warning that a loss of public confidence in the judiciary would be detrimental to the country. “It is of huge concern looking at the recent pronouncements by the courts. I would like to remind the judiciary that justice is rooted in public confidence. A situation where the public is losing faith and trust in the system will not bode well for us,” he stated.
Lanre Arogundade, Executive Director of the International Press Centre, appealed for security to be attached to journalists covering this year’s election, urging agencies to protect media professionals and prevent a repeat of past attacks. While calling on journalists to maintain professionalism, he also urged President (retired) Major General Muhammadu Buhari to find a lasting solution to the naira scarcity, noting its impact on observers and journalists who need funds to move around. “The issue of naira scarcity will also affect observers and journalists because they will need money to travel. Something must be done to ensure easy coverage. The emperor of Nigeria now is President Buhari, and as an emperor, he shouldn’t fiddle while the nation burns,” he added.
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