The chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu says the presidential and National Assembly elections will hold on Saturday, 23rd February as scheduled.
The INEC chairman gave the assurance on Wednesday in Abuja at the signing of the national peace accord by presidential candidates
According to Prof. Yakubu, the electoral umpire is ready to conduct a free and fair election and Nigerians should be rest assured that their votes will count.
The INEC boss further gave assurances that the commission is neutral and has no preferred candidate in the forthcoming general elections.
In his words, “I want to, first of all, appreciate the untiring efforts of the National Peace Committee for convening this important event.
This is the third peace accord to be signed by political parties and candidates on the eve of a general election in Nigeria since 2015, and the ninth overall, if we include the accord signed before the commencement of electioneering campaign in September last year and ahead of five off-cycle governorship elections in Edo and Ondo in 2020, Anambra in 2021, Ekiti and Osun states in 2022.
The signing of the peace accord today comes at a critical moment in the electoral calendar. Campaign for presidential and national assembly elections ends at midnight tomorrow, Thursday, 23rd February, 2023. Election will hold on Saturday this week. INEC is ready.
This morning, we commenced the movement of sensitive materials to the various local government areas nationwide. By Friday, we will activate the registration area centres, so that at first light on Saturday, polling units will open on time.
The commission is committed to free, fair, and credible elections in compliance with the electoral framework and the spirit of the peace accord.
All political parties and candidates are hereby reassured of the commission’s neutrality. INEC is not a political party. We have no candidate in the election. Our allegiance is to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and our loyalty is to Nigerians. Therefore, Nigerians should feel confident that their votes will count.”
