INEC Raises Alarm, Says 2023 General Election May Have Issues
- Destruction of INEC offices might affect preparation for the 2023 general election according to the commission
- Recall that vandals burned INEC offices in some part of southeast and south-south
- Going further, the commission said some of their workers were living in fear
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As Nigeria continues to witness unprecedented attacks on offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the electoral umpire has given a scary verdict concerning the 2023 general election.
It said preparation for the coming general election will be negatively affected by the attacks.
Source: Original
This was disclosed by Festus Okoye, INEC’s spokesperson, during an interview with Channels Television.
He said as a result of the attack, many sensitive and non-sensitive materials, including generators and card readers, have been lost.
Okoye stated:
“In relation to some of these attacks and their implications, you know at the local government level, the electoral officers serve more or less as managing-directors of our elections.
“If you attack our local government offices, you are attacking our capacity and capability of conducting elections.
“We are worried that our preparations are being distracted and distorted. We are also worried because some of our officers are now living in fear in relation to what is going on."
Recall Legit.ng had reported that Legit.ng reported 2023 elections may not hold, at least as planned by INEC.
Since the completion of the 2019 general elections, Nigeria's political media space has been dominated by the permutations regarding the 2023 elections.
However, as the nation moves closer to 2023, there are increasing worries that the elections may not hold due to some really scary, disturbing and unprecedented developments.
Attacks
In the year 2021 alone, at least four offices belonging to the nation's electoral body have been attacked and set ablaze, Legit.ng can confirm.
INEC announced on Monday, April 20, 2021, that its data processing centre in Kano state was gutted by fire.
Similarly, the INEC office in Essien Udim local government was on Sunday, May 2, set ablaze by unknown assailants.
On Sunday night, May 9, 2021, the recently renovated INEC office in Ohafia local government area was set ablaze.
According to INEC, the building was virtually destroyed. Apart from furniture items, all electoral materials and office equipment were destroyed.
Also on Sunday night, May 16, INEC's headquarters in Enugu state was gutted by fire.
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Meanwhile, former president Olusegun Obasanjo recently said, political leaders must ensure the year 2023 births the emergence of a new federation otherwise Nigeria may slide into dissolution.
Source: Legit.ng
