Citizens have been urged to join hands with the electoral umpires to achieve the needed electoral success in the upcoming 2023 general elections.
Chairman of, the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, gave the charge at the official presentation of the INEC Strategic Plan 2022-2026 and the INEC Election Project Plan for the 2023 General Election in Abuja.
He said the Commission alone cannot deliver much-desired elections, hence citizens have a critical role to play to drive the commission’s actionable policy for the dividend of democracy.
The INEC 2022-2026 Strategic Plan and the Election Project Plan for the 2023 General Election are the third in the series of strategic election plans since 2012.
However, these Plans have lessons drawn from reviews and level of implementation of the last plans aimed at building on the successes of the preceding plans, particularly in the conduct of the 2019 General Election as well as off-cycle and bye-elections in the country.
While speaking, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the INEC boss said in order to ensure success the commission had to carefully listen to the demand of Nigerians in its strategic processes through the enhancement of voter education, better distribution of voters to polling units, quality training of election personnel amongst others.
“We are also aware of the security challenges and their impact on the electoral process. We will continue to engage early and intensely with the security agencies to ensure the safety of our personnel and materials, accredited observers and the media, and, above all, the voters. Clearly, these are challenging times but we are determined that the election must hold in 2023. As you may be aware, the election will be conducted for 1,491 constituencies nationwide made up of 1 presidential constituency, 109 senatorial districts, 360 federal constituencies, 28 governorship elections, and 993 state constituencies. The election will involve an estimated one million electoral officials (both permanent and temporary or ad hoc staff) deployed to 176,846 polling units in 8,809 Wards and 774 Local Government Areas across the country. The election will be governed by a new Electoral Act 2022, which contains many progressive provisions that will enhance the capacity of the Commission to conduct elections and manage the electoral process better.”
Meanwhile, partners at the event commended the commission for its transparency and continuous engagement with stakeholders, thus pledging their unwavering commitment to guaranteeing a free, fair, and credible election in the country.
The commission, however, expresses optimism that with the strategies put in place the country’s electioneering management and outcomes are becoming less contentious with a high level of voter experience for inclusivity.
