Abuja, Jan. 10, 2023 – Prof Mahmood Yakubu, the INEC Chairman, says the forthcoming elections may be cancelled or postponed if the current insecurity across the country fails to improve.
He said this at the validation of election security training resources in Abuja on Monday where he was represented by Abdullahi Zuru, the Chairman, Board of Electoral Institute.
“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 elections results and precipitate a constitutional crisis,” he said.
Yakubu, however, said that the commission was not leaving anything to chance in ensuring that security is provided for election personnel and materials.
He said INEC said he appreciated that security was vital to democratic consolidation through the provision of enabling environment for the conduct of free, fair, credible and inclusive elections and thus strengthening the electoral process.
“Consequently, in preparation for the 2023 general elections, the commission is not leaving anything to chance in ensuring that intensive and extensive security is provided for election personnel, materials and processes.
“This is particularly significant to the commission given the current insecurity challenges in various parts of the country and the fact that the National Youth Service Corps members constitute the core of the polling unit election officials.
“This must not be allowed to happen and shall not be allowed to happen. Therefore, security personnel in particular and all electoral officials, in general, must be security conscious and alert to unusual activities in their environment and must be fully equipped to deal with any challenge at all times,” he said. (GBN)
