Nigerian Government Allays Fears Of Election Postponement

The Nigerian Government has stated that the 2023 general elections will be held as scheduled on February 25 and March 11 this year. The government said this, dismissing the earlier statement credited to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that the upcoming general elections face the threat of threat cancellation due to insecurity in parts of the country.

Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, who spoke on the matter on Tuesday at the 17th edition of the ‘President Muhammadu Buhari Administration Scorecard Series (2015-2023)’ in Abuja, said there is no cause for alarm.

He said the citizens should not worry as efforts are being made to ensure peaceful and credible conduct of the polls.

He added that INEC is working with security agencies to ensure that the elections are successfully conducted across the country.

READ ALSO: 2023 Polls May Be Postponed Due To Insecurity – INEC

“Let me seize this opportunity to respond to inquiries from the media over a widely-circulated report credited to an INEC official, that the 2023 general election faces a serious threat of cancellation due to insecurity. The position of the Federal Government remains that the 2023 elections will be held as planned. Nothing has happened to change that position. We are aware that INEC is working with security agencies to ensure that the elections are successfully held across the country.

“The security agencies have also continued to assure Nigerians that they are working tirelessly to ensure that the elections are held in a peaceful atmosphere,” the information minister stated.

Abdullahi Zuru, INEC commissioner and chairman, of the board of the Electoral Institute, had while speaking at the validation of election security training resources on Monday, said that if the rising insecurity in parts of the country is not addressed, it might lead to the postponement of the election.

Zuru, however, assured that the commission was working hard to ensure that adequate security is provided for election personnel, materials, and processes.