The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it will not conduct successful elections under violent atmosphere in 2023.
The Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, said this at a meeting with United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) held in Abuja on Monday.
According to him, Electoral Commissions in West Africa and beyond have expressed concern about the impact of prevailing insecurity and banditry on the conduct of elections.
He, therefore, disclosed that a nine-nation conference of Electoral Commissions and election experts is holding this week in Ouagadougou, involving the host, Burkina Faso, as well as Benin Republic, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal and Togo from West Africa; and the Central African Republic and Democratic Republic of Congo from Central Africa.
In his words, “These are critical conditions for peace. Election Management Bodies are major beneficiaries of your work. This is because elections and electoral activities cannot be successfully conducted in an atmosphere of violence. For this reason, INEC always appreciates the role of UNOWAS in our sub-region and the Sahel.
“At different fora, Electoral Commissions in West Africa and beyond have expressed concern about the impact of prevailing insecurity on the conduct of elections, particularly with regard to insurgency, banditry, and other forms of armed conflict. Nigeria will be making two presentations at the Conference.
“We believe that your visit today will not only encourage us in our determination to conduct credible, transparent, inclusive, and verifiable elections but we will also share the outcome of our discussion with colleagues from other electoral commissions in West Africa and beyond.
“Since you arrived in Nigeria, we have followed your engagements with stakeholders. In particular, we appreciate your fervent appeal for support to the efforts of INEC to conduct peaceful elections. With just 81 days to the 2023 General Election, we have made tremendous progress in our preparations so far.”
