By TINA TIMOTHY

Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, has stated that in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022, “activities towards the 2023 general election will enter the critical stages this month of September 2022.” This, he said, will begin with publishing the final list of candidates for national elections (Presidential, Senatorial and House of Representatives) on September 20 by INEC and commencement of public campaigns on September 28 by political parties.

Yakubu spoke while delivering his remarks at the Expert Meeting on Conducting Elections in Volatile Security Environment, organised in collaboration with the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), in Abuja on Thursday, September 1.

“I have no doubt in my mind that today’s meeting meets the twin tests of relevance and timeliness. The meeting is relevant because of the volatile security situation in some parts of the country and its implications on the forthcoming elections. It is timely because the election is fast approaching but there is still time to address the security concerns ahead of the election. Most appropriately, I believe that arising from the shared experience of participants at this meeting, specific recommendations will be made to further enrich our understanding of the security issues in the forthcoming election, the various dimensions of the challenges and, most importantly, possible measures to respond to them to ensure that elections peacefully hold nationwide as required by law,” Yakubu said.

The INEC Chairman appealed to all political parties and their candidates to focus on issue-based campaigns. He also appreciated the efforts of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) and all security agencies that have shown support towards a peaceful election process, commending the force for going further to ‘enhancing the professionalism of police personnel on election duty,’ adding that ‘this is the best way to complement our efforts to ensure transparent elections in which only the votes cast by citizens determine the winner.’

“The Commission welcomes this initiative and as Co-Chairman of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), there is no doubt that the security agencies also welcome ideas and citizens’ support towards peaceful elections. Afterall, only recently the office of the Inspector General of Police organised a nationwide capacity-building for police personnel on election security. The Police was not only motivated by the same concern of ensuring a secure environment for the election but also enhancing the professionalism of police personnel on election duty.

“Activities towards the 2023 General Election will enter the critical stages this month. In the next 19 days i.e. on 20th September 2022, the Commission will publish the final list of candidates for national elections (Presidential, Senatorial and House of Representatives) as provided in Sec. 32(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 and the Timetable and Schedule of Activities released by the Commission. This will be followed on 4th October 2022 by the publication of the final list of candidates for State elections (Governorship and State Houses of Assembly). Campaign in public by political parties will officially commence on 28th September 2022 as provided by Sec. 94(1) of the Electoral Act 2022. As campaigns commence, we appeal to all political parties and candidates to focus on issue-based campaigns. This is the best way to complement our efforts to ensure transparent elections in which only the votes cast by citizens determine the winner.

“Once again, I appreciate the CDD for organizing this meeting and thank the security agencies and other stakeholders for supporting this initiative,” Yakubu added.

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