INEC to commence media briefings on electoral activities

Ahead of the 2023 general election, the Independent National Electoral Commission has said that it will commence its bi-weekly media briefings followed by weekly updates.

The Commission’s chairman, Mahmood Yakubu stated this in his message titled, ‘100 days to the 2023 general election’ on Wednesday.

Yakubu explained that Nigerians deserve the right to know about the progress INEC is making and the challenges that confront the Commission as it prepares for the general election, hence the need for the briefings.

The INEC chairman also re-emphasised that there is no going back on the deployment of the Bimodal Voters Accreditation System and the INEC Result Viewing Portal while urging voters to get their Permanent Voter card.

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His message read, “It is exactly 100 days today before polling units open at 8:30 am on Saturday 25th February 2023 for national elections (Presidential and National Assembly) and two weeks later on Saturday, March 11, 2023, for state elections (Governorship and State Houses of Assembly).

“Once again, another General Election is upon us, the 7th since the restoration of democracy in Nigeria in 1999. Over the last 23 years, we have made steady progress in the twin areas of electoral reform and election administration. Although a lot of work still lies ahead, it is generally acknowledged that our elections are getting better and citizens’ confidence in the process is increasing.

“As I have said repeatedly, the Commission’s allegiance is to Nigeria. Our loyalty is to Nigerians who want free, fair, credible and verifiable elections supported by technology, which guarantees transparent accreditation and upload of polling unit results for citizens to view in real-time on Election Day. It is for these reasons that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System and the INEC Result Viewing Portal were introduced. There is no going back on the deployment of BVAS and IReV for the 2023 General Election.

“Similarly, we will continue with our regular engagement with political parties, civil society organisations, the media and other critical stakeholders. Above all, Nigerians deserve the right to know about the progress we are making and the challenges (if any) we confront in our preparations for the General Election. Accordingly, in a couple of weeks, the Commission will start bi-weekly media briefings followed by weekly briefings as we get closer to the election. In the week leading to the election, there will be daily briefings.

“I seize this opportunity to call on all citizens to participate fully in all electoral activities, particularly the ongoing display of the Register of Voters for claims and objections, as well as a collection of Permanent Voters’ Cards. I also call on political parties and political leaders to conduct their campaigns peacefully, eschewing divisiveness, rancour and violence.

“As Nigerians are aware, the election is a multi-stakeholder activity. We will continue to play our part diligently and conscientiously. We appeal to all stakeholders and, above all, citizens to play their own part so that working together, we can have the elections that Nigerians yearn for, and which the world expects from us.”