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INEC raises alarm, says 2023 general election may have issuese

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– Destruction of INEC offices might affect preparation for 2023 general election according to the commission

– Recall that some vandals have burned some INEC offices in some part of southeast and southsouth

– Going further, the commission said some of their workers are living in fear

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says the attacks on some of its offices are disturbing early preparations for the 2023 general election.

Over the past weeks, some INEC offices have witnessed a spate of attacks, leading to the destruction of some sensitive and non-sensitive materials.

INEC raises alarm, says 2023 general election may have issues
INEC has raise alarm of preparation for 2023 general election. Photo: Sodiq Adelakun

Source: Original

Speaking on the development in an interview with Channels Television on Monday, Festus Okoye, INEC’s spokesperson, said the attacks are making a negative impact on the commission’s activities.

Okoye noted that the commission has lost sensitive and non-sensitive materials, including generators and card readers.

He explained that the commission may have to rent apartments to replace the burnt local government offices, but expressed concern that the disposition of the landlords of such places could affect the outcome of the election.

“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,” he said.

“We do not conduct elections at our INEC headquarters. It is at the base level that these elections are conducted. You also know that we just finished verification relating to expansion of voters’ access to the polling units. It was at the various local government offices that these were coordinated. They coordinated the geo-referencing of the old and new polling units.

“If you attack our local government offices, you are attacking our capacity and capability of conducting elections.

“So, when you displace the commission, the implication is that the commission may have to go and look for a rented house and when the commission goes to look for a rented office, you don’t know the political disposition and inclination of the landlords of that office. You may just come out on election day and find out that your offices are locked and there’s absolutely nothing you will do about it.

“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.

“There is no doubt whatsoever that what is going on is unacceptable, and it’s going to divert the attention of the commission from early preparations for the 2023 elections and for the off season elections that we’re organising.”

Recall that Legit.ng had reported that 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, Legit.ng gathers.

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.

For Nigeria to progress, the 2023 elections must hold. The Nigerian government must as a matter of urgency start taking steps to address all the factors threatening the conduct of the elections.

Source: Legit.ng

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