The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has directed all
Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) to submit an inventory of all
election materials under their care before March 12.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, who gave the directive on Monday at
a meeting with the RECs in Abuja, said the move would enable the
commission prepare early for 2023 general election.
Yakubu restated the commission’s commitment to deepening the culture of
planning for elections.
“As we continue to plan for the next general election, the RECs have
been directed to compile and submit an inventory of all election
materials in order to determine shortfalls and take early steps to
ensure their adequacy and availability.
“Only a few states are still outstanding. I wish to remind the states
that are yet to make their submissions to do so by the end of this week.
“This will enable us to address some of the logistics issues that have
become a recurring decimal in the conduct of elections in the past.
“The 2023 general elections must be different from all previous
elections in terms of our preparations and readiness,” Yakubu said.
He said that the meeting would among other things review the
commission’s engagements with stakeholders on the planned expansion of
voters’ access to polling units.
Yakubu said the meeting would also discuss INEC preparations for the
commencement of the Continuous Voters Registration (CVR).
“Our plan is to conclude the ongoing consultations and the actual work
on the polling units in earnest so that the new locations will be made
public for eligible registrants to choose where they wish to register
and vote on election day.
“Furthermore, those who wish to replace their lost or damaged Permanent
Voters’ Cards (PVCs), as well as those who are already registered but
who may wish to apply for transfer of their registration from one
location to another, will be able to do so as provided by law,” he said.
Yakubu said that the report of committee inaugurated on Feb. 9 to review
INEC strategic plan as well projections for future elections would be
ready by end of March.
“The current five-year plan covering the period 2017-2021 expires in
2021.
“For this reason, a committee involving the participation of some RECs
was inaugurated a few weeks ago to review the Strategic Plan (SP) and
the Strategic Programme of Action (SPA) to cover the next cycle of five
years from 2022-2026. The committee is making good progress.
“Its report should be submitted by the end of this month to enable the
commission engage stakeholders for its validation and subsequent
implementation.
“I want to assure Nigerians that this will be accomplished long before
the expiry of the current plan at the end of 2021,” he said.
Yakubu said that the commission would release the time table for
by-election for Isoko North State Constituency in Delta House of
Assembly before the end of the week.
He commended the RECs and staff of the commission for ensuring that
Magama/Rijau Federal Constituency re-run election and the Kafin Hausa
State Constituency by-election in Niger and Jigawa, met the standard for
credible elections.
He advised them to strive to do better in the forthcoming by-election in
Ekiti and Abia.
The election included Ekiti East State Constituency 1 by-election
scheduled for March 20 and the Aba North/Aba South Federal Constituency
by-election in Abia on March 27.(NAN)