INEC release guidelines for 2023 elections, deploys additional registration machines

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By Yomi Kareem with agency report

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Friday released the Regulations and Guidelines for the Conduct of Elections in 2022.

The guidelines were released by Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the INEC Chairman, during a special meeting of the Inter-agency Consultative committee on election security (ICCES) in Abuja, to review security arrangements for the Ekiti governorship election.

Yakubu said, “On several occasions, the Commission has assured Nigerians that we are finalizing the Regulations and Guidelines for the elections. I am glad to announce that the document is ready and will be presented to Nigerians shortly. The soft copy will be uploaded to our website with the link shared on our social media platforms.”

Meanwhile, the INEC boss said additional registration machines will be deployed to ease the surge at some of the congested Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) centres in the country.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, stated this on Friday in Abuja at a special meeting of the Inter-agency Consultative committee on Election Security (ICCES).

The meeting was called to review the security arrangement for the forthcoming Ekiti governorship election.

Yakubu recalled that for the first time the commission introduced the online pre-registration, as well as physical registration at designated centres.

He said due to the June 30 deadline given for the suspension of the CVR, long queues were building up, especially in Lagos, Kano, the Federal Capital Territory and some states in the South-East.

He disclosed that INEC had anticipated the last minute surge and, therefore, established additional centres and deployed more machines to register eligible citizens.

“Unfortunately, the security situation in many parts of the country has not allowed for full deployment as planned.

“In some states, INEC registration officers were attacked resulting not only in the unfortunate destruction of buildings and loss of equipment, but even worse, the death of an employee.

“This has forced the closure of some of the registration centres.

“However, in view of the surge, additional machines will be deployed to some of the most congested areas to ease the surge.

`Similarly, the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) have been directed to liaise with the security agencies and stakeholders on the possibility of reopening some of the centres earlier closed due to insecurity.

“In doing so, they must always bear in mind the safety of registrants and registration officials.

“Furthermore, the RECs are directed to do more to provide information, increase awareness of the processes and more promptly respond to genuine complaints by citizens,” Yakubu said.

He appreciated the support of partners and critical stakeholders in mobilising citizens to register.

The chairman said that INEC looked forward to such partnership to encourage registered voters to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and for increased voter turnout on Election Day.