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Presidential polls: Postponement looms over insecurity *We’re waiting and watching – INEC
The possibility of a postponement of the general 2023 elections, is becoming more apparent, given the restiveness of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the ability of the security agencies in the country to make the environment safe enough for credible exercises.
The situation, is said not to be looking up at the moment, less than six days to the commencement of the exercise, starting with Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly polls, with growing fears at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja that the readiness of various security agencies to be deployed for the election, was in doubt.
Daily Sun, quotes a National Commissioner, who declined to be mentioned, as expressing worries over the spate of violent protests following the redesign of the nation’s currency recently introduced by the Federal Government, adding that the commission had not got a commensurate response for peaceful conduct of the poll from security agencies, and that though the INEC was ready for the polls, it would however wait for the response and assurances from the security agencies.
“I can confirm to you that the commission is ready to conduct the presidential and National Assembly election as scheduled. Sensitive and non-sensitive materials have been deployed to all the states. The Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines have been configured and deployed to the appropriate places.
“We are ready to go; however, what I cannot confirm is whether we will get commensurate commitment from the security agencies especially as it concerns the security situation in the country. You can see the recent protests in some states, they need to deal with this situation,” he said.
Also speaking on the promise by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to help the commission with cash to offset some responsibilities, without which the commission would face some difficulties, he said: “We will meet with the chairman to brief us about the situation with the arrangements with the CBN over our cash requests. If we did not get favourable responses over these issues of insecurity and cash support, we will inform Nigerians during a world press conference,” he said.
However, speaking on both the security and the cash requests from the CBN, INEC boss, Mahmood Yakubu said: “On what is happening around the country, the protest that you mentioned, it is a security matter. This is an issue that we are going to discuss with the security agencies.
“As you know we have our own role clearly cut out and others also have their own roles clearly cut out, but the most important thing is that we are working together. The security agencies have assured and reassured that they will secure the environment for elections to hold peacefully nationwide. So, we have no issues in that respect.
“We visited the CBN last week on the issue of cash for payment of some of the services not all, some of the services that we are going to engage on election day. The bulk of payment for goods, works and services are made by the commission through electronic transfer.
“However, there are certain critical services that we have to remunerate by cash. And that is why we want to call on the CBN for help but it is a small percentage of the budget and the CBN has assured us that; as I keep saying, we will not suffer any encumbrances in that regard, so there are no issues with respect to that.”
The Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi says he is aware of some evil designs against himself and his supporters in the coming months.
The former Anambra State governor disclosed this in a statement released on his verified Twitter handle on Monday, May 29, 2023.
The release of the statement coincided with the inauguration of Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as Nigeria’s President at the Eagle Square in Abuja.
I am aware of some evil designs being hatched against me and my supporters in the coming months. Efforts will be made to taint my image. Campaigns of calumny are being perfected to defame my character and diminish my hard-earned integrity.
— Peter Obi (@PeterObi) May 28, 2023
See full statement:
For all Nigerians, this is a time for deep reflection. It is also a time to re-examine our assumptions, even as we reaffirm our hopes. Let us calmly review our aspirations, in order to recalibrate our expectations and pin down the causes of our missed opportunities and disappointments.
We stand at that critical moment in time when, as a people, we must collectively come to grips with the reality of our injured destiny as well as the reasons for that injury. It is for us to reassess our plight as a young democracy and identify clear pathways to a better and greater future for us all. As we await the verdict of the election tribunal, I urge all Nigerians to use this opportunity to renew their commitment to the Nigerian ideal. That ideal remains noble and worth every sacrifice we can make.
Nigeria remains our only patrimony and it is a patrimony we must protect, rather than violate. We have no other nation but this, so let us remain committed to rescuing and rebuilding it.
The judiciary is part of the democratic enterprise and a critical governance tool for determining the propriety of the decisions and actions of every citizen and every institution of state. To that extent, and for that reason, I urge everyone to treat it with the respect and dignity it deserves.
We expect that the Nigerian judiciary will use the election cases now before it to reaffirm its independence and integrity. It has to do so, for all our sakes and for itself.
Nigerians must, therefore, remain peaceful and law abiding. No matter the depth of anyone’s reservations about what is going on in the polity today, no matter the real and imagined provocations, and no matter the disagreement out there, we should remember that this will not last forever.
I remain committed, and untiring, in my determination to work with like-minded fellow Nigerians to end the curse of missed opportunities and squandered hope that has become our lot here.
I will never shrink from that original commitment, because I firmly believe that we must change from the present politics of criminality, and corruption, in order to make a new Nigeria possible.
I call on fellow Nigerians, especially the youths to remain steadfast, calm, patient, and peaceful. Our journey may be long and difficult but it is worth it in every way. Victory is assured.
We have to work together to move our beautiful country from corruption and criminality to a center of productivity rather than aimless consumption.
I am aware of some evil designs being hatched against me and my supporters in the coming months. Efforts will be made to taint my image. Campaigns of calumny are being perfected to defame my character and diminish my hard-earned integrity.
These schemes will aim at degrading our support base and confusing the public. But, no evil campaign will alter the substance of my character; nor diminish my patriotic commitment to a better Nigeria. It is about the future of our youths. it is about ending the Years of Locust.
In all of this, I thank Nigerians, our great party (LP) and the media. The latter, as the Fourth Estate of the realm, has remained a trusted ally.
This Estate must continue to guide our people on the immense promise of a future in a new Nigeria.
God bless Nigeria and protect the troops keeping us safe in this season of vaulting insecurity.
Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria. –PO
Channels
James Faleke, lawmaker and Secretary of the now defunct All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council (APC-PCC), has revealed that President Bola Tinubu would unveil members of his cabinet within 60 days.
Channels Television, which quoted him as saying on Monday, at the inauguration of of Tinubu and Kashim Shettima as president and vice-president of Nigeria was underway at the Eagle Square in Abuja, said the President, would , unveil his cabinet as soon as possible.
Faleke, who promised that the new President would bring a different approach to power, was quoted as saying: “Of course, within 60 days, that’s what the law says. He can announce anytime but I just know he must do it within 60 days.”
Eradication of terrorism, waging war against corruption and battling the crippling poverty in Nigeria, would form the fulcrum of a new Nigeria President Bola Tinubu, says he would strive to put in place as his new government began hours ago after assuming the reins of power as the 16th President, after Muhammadu Buhari handed over to him at an elaborate ceremony at the Eagle Square, Abuja, on Monday.
Vowing to defend Nigeria from all forms of terror, as well as end extreme poverty in the country, Tinubu, told Nigerians: “I will do that through job creation and food security and end to extreme poverty. I will ensure that corruption is tacked by strenghtening anti-corruption agencies.”
He also promised that his administration would discourage corruption through the introduction of a credit culture, stating: “Our government will continue to take proactive steps such as championing a credit culture to discourage corruption while strengthening the effectiveness and efficiency of the various anti-corruption agencies.”
It was also on a day the President, who had during his presidential campaigns, promised Nigerians that he would remove subsidy on petroleum products, made good his words by announcing suspension on them, adding that the era of payments on fuel was gone, as the 2023 Budget made no provision for fuel subsidy “and more so, subsidy payment is no longer justifiable.”
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