2023: INEC Inaugurates Situation Room, Collation Centre Committees

In preparation for the 2023 general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has set up two committees for the National Situation Room and Collation Centre where  Presidential elections results will be collated.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, inaugurated the committees during the Commission’s regular weekly meeting held Thursday in Abuja.

INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, in a statement on Thursday, said the Commission chose the International Conference Centre (ICC), Abuja as venue for the National Situation Room and Collation Centre for the 2023 General Election.

According to Okoye, one of the committees, the Collation Secretariat, where Presidential election results from the States will be collated, will be headed by the Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, as the Chief Electoral Commissioner of the Federation and Returning Officer for the Presidential election. Yakubu will be assisted by a few other technical staff.

The second Committee which is the Situation Room and Collation Centre, “shall be responsible for the preparation of the venue, seating arrangement, utilities and services, security, the accreditation of party agents, as well as the national and international observers, media, etc.”

The Committee has the following membership:

1. Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu, National Commissioner – Chairperson

2. Prof. Abdullahi Abdu Zuru, National Commissioner – Member

3. Barr. Festus Okoye, National Commissioner – Member

4. Director, Electoral Operations – Member

5. Director, ICT – Member

6. Director, Planning and Monitoring – Member

7. Director, Security – Member

8. Director, Election & Party Monitoring – Member

9. Director, International Cooperation & Protocol – Member

10. Director, Research – Member

11. Director, Health Services – Member

12. Director, Estate, Works and Transport – Member

13. Chief Technical Adviser to the Chairman – Member

14. Special Adviser to the Chairman – Member

15. Chief Press Secretary to the Chairman – Member

16. Director, Commission Secretariat – Member/Secretary

Okoye further stated that the INEC Chairman while inaugurating the committee, charged the members to begin work in earnest “and to discharge its responsibilities diligently.”