In direct response to the alarm raised by the country’s electoral umpire about an impending cancellation of the forthcoming general election on grounds of insecurity, the federal government has calmed frayed nerves, saying there is no threat to the polls.
Categorically, the government said the elections will hold as planned, and there is nothing to suggest otherwise.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had on Monday warned that the 2023 general election, which is less than two months away, faces a serious threat of cancellation if the wave of insecurity in parts of the country fails to improve.
The commission’s warning came on the day it reported that about one week after the expiration of the December 31, 2022 deadline to end all forms of terrorist criminality, attacks have persisted.
But the federal government noted yesterday that the electoral body is collaborating with security agencies to make sure that the polls are conducted smoothly.
The minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, stated this during the 17th edition of President Muhammadu Buhari Scorecard series featuring the minister of Health, Dr Ehanire Osagie.
He said, “Before I invite the Honourable minister of Health to the podium, let me use this opportunity to respond to inquiries from the media over a widely-circulated report, credited to an INEC official, that the 2023 general elections face 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 the security agencies to ensure that the elections are successfully held across the country.”
The minister stated that security agencies have also continued to assure Nigerians that they are working tirelessly to ensure that the elections are held in a peaceful atmosphere.
“Therefore, there is no cause for alarm,” he added.
INEC had on Monday said the seeming unabated insecurity may prevent the much expected general election from holding.
According to the commission’s chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, if the insecurity in the country is “not dealt with decisively, it could ultimately culminate in the cancellation or postponement of elections in sufficient constituencies to hinder declaration of election results and precipitate constitutional crisis”.
Mahmood spoke in Abuja through the chairman, Board of Electoral Institute, Abdullahi Zuru.
Despite the federal government’s position, the pan Yoruba social cultural organisation, Afenifere, yesterday warned against postponement of the 2023 general elections.
It said every effort must be made to ensure that the polls slated for February and March this year are conducted successfully and winners declared and sworn in on May 29, 2023 as stipulated by the nation’s laws.
In a press statement issued by its national publicity secretary, Comrade Jare Ajayi, Afenifere however noted that Nigerians were reassured by the prompt response by the minister of Information and Culture who vowed that nothing will stop the elections as scheduled.
Afenifere said, “But we feel that there is the need to let anyone thinking of postponement or cancellation of the elections that such a thing is and will remain unacceptable, no matter the reason.
“We recall that in 2015, there was insecurity too to the extent that some local government areas, specifically in Borno State, were in the hands of Boko Haram terrorists. Yet elections were held. There also was insecurity in 2019 and elections were not stopped”.
The organisation further stated that it felt the need to sound the note of warning so that whoever may be thinking of postponing or altering the elections’ calendar should know that such a thing would not be accepted.
“In Nigeria, there is often the tendency to fly a kite. Most of the time, such kites are on policies or steps that were usually not in the best interest of the Nigerian public. This is why it is very important to clearly sound this note of warning without any ambiguity. This is why we are stating clearly that Nigerians are prepared for the elections just as the whole world is awaiting the elections. Nothing whatsoever should alter the schedule or cause postponement let alone cancellation”.
Afenifere added however that the commission has, so far, demonstrated its commitment to giving the country an election package that will be celebrated positively.
It stated that the commission’s commitment is in line with various assurances that President Muhammadu Buhari had repeatedly given that this year’s elections will not only hold, but will be free, fair and credible.
Afenifere stressed that the president has also repeatedly expressed his desire to retire to his country home in Daura, Katsina State immediately he hands over on May 29, 2023.
The organisation therefore called on all concerned to ensure that nothing is done to suggest that these assuring words of President Buhari are a veil that could be used by the unscrupulous to hoodwink Nigerians into a false hope.
“So much has been invested into the forthcoming general elections. Everything must be done to ensure that the elections are held and held successfully,” Afenifere stated.