Nigerians have been assured by the federal government that the planned general elections in 2023 will take place.
Goldennewsng reports that on Tuesday, Minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed disclosed this.
This was said by Mohammed in Abuja at the 17th edition of the scorecard series from 2015 to 2023 by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Following alleged murders by the Eastern Security Network, the militant arm of the banned Indigenous People of Biafra, and banditry in the North-West, the minister gave the assurance.
Since the general election of 2019, the Independent National Electoral Commission reported that over 41 attacks had been committed against its offices in 14 states, with the South-East reporting 13 attacks.
On May 9, 2021, the attacks began in Abia and spread to Enugu and Ebonyi, where there were three incidents each; With two attacks, imo; Anambra and Abia each have one, as do the states of Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom.
In addition, on Monday, INEC sounded the alarm about the country’s worsening security situation and how it might affect the general elections in 2023.
At the validation of election security training resources in Abuja, INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu noted that the forthcoming election faces a serious cancellation risk if national insecurity does not improve.
“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,” Yakubu, represented by Abdullahi Zuru, Chairman of the Board of Electoral Institute, stated.
Mohammed, on the other hand, stated that the Federal Government is aware that INEC is collaborating with security agencies to ensure that nationwide elections are successful.
“Let me use this opportunity to respond to inquiries from the media over a widely circulated report credited to an INEC official that the 2023 general elections face a serious threat of cancellation due to insecurity,” he stated.
The Federal Government’s position remains that the planned 2023 elections will take place. That position has not changed in any way. We are aware that INEC collaborates with the security agencies to ensure the successful holding of the nationwide elections.
“The security agencies have also continued to reassure Nigerians that they are putting in a lot of effort to make sure that the elections take place peacefully.” Therefore, there is no reason to be concerned.
