Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu has said that the Commission has virtually concluded the planning processes for the 2023 general elections nine months ahead of the elections.
The Chairman, who presided over the official release of the regulations and guidelines for next year’s general elections at a security meeting today, June 3, with the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), said that everything has been put in place to ensure a hitch-free election.
“With the release of the Regulations and Guidelines today, and the publication of the Strategic Plan (SP) 2022-2026 and Election Project Plan 2023 earlier, the Commission has virtually concluded the planning processes for the 2023 general elections nine months ahead of the elections.
“In the next couple of weeks, the training manual will also be presented to Nigerians. Going forward, the Commission will focus on election administration: logistics, training, voter education, technology, sensitisation against vote buying, inclusivity measures and, above all, security. ICCES will continue to play a critical role and the Commission appreciates the support of all security agencies.
“With the coming into force of the Electoral Act 2022, it has become necessary to review the Commission’s regulations and guidelines to govern the conduct of elections.
“The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), the Electoral Act 2022 and the regulations and guidelines constitute the electoral legal framework.”
“On several occasions, the Commission has assured Nigerians that we are finalising the regulations and guidelines for the elections. I am glad to announce that the document is ready and will be presented to Nigerians shortly. The soft copy will be uploaded to our website with the link shared on our social media platforms.”
He said that the training manual would also be presented to Nigerians in the next couple of weeks, while INEC would focus on election administration going forward.
