2023: INEC Vows To Use Technology For 2023 Election, Says No Going Back

By Akinwale Kasali

Electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has disclosed that its allegiance and loyalty to Nigerians to conduct a free and fair election is sacrosanct as they are not going back on its decision to use technology for the 2023 Elections.

INEC said it is determined to conduct a verifiable election, supported by technology which guarantees transparent accreditation and upload of polling unit results for citizens to view in real-time on election day.

Chairman of the Commission, Mahmood Yakubu, in a statement reiterated that there was no going back on the Commission’s readiness to deploy the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System and the INEC Result Viewing Portal in the 2023 general election.

In the statement titled, ‘A message from the INEC Chairman: 100 days to the 2023 general election’, the INEC Boss stressed that the Commission has made a steady progress in electoral reform and election administration, adding that Nigerians’ confidence in the electoral process was increasing.

The statement reads:  “It is exactly 100 days today before polling units open at 8.30am on Saturday 25th February 2023 for national elections (Presidential and National Assembly) and two weeks later on Saturday 11th March 2023 for State elections (Governorship and State Houses of Assembly).

“Once again, another General Election is upon us, the 7th since the restoration of democracy in Nigeria in 1999. Over the last 23 years, we have made a steady progress in the twin areas of electoral reform and election administration. Although a lot of work still lies ahead, it is generally acknowledged that our elections are getting better and citizens’ confidence in the process is increasing.

“As I have said repeatedly, the Commission’s allegiance is to Nigeria. Our loyalty is to Nigerians who want free, fair, credible and verifiable elections supported by technology, which guarantees transparent accreditation and upload of polling unit results for citizens to view in real-time on Election Day. It is for these reasons that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) were introduced. There is no going back on the deployment of BVAS and IReV for the 2023 General Election.

“Similarly, we will continue with our regular engagement with political parties, civil society organisations, the media and other critical stakeholders. Above all, Nigerians deserve the right to know about the progress we are making and the challenges (if any) we confront in our preparations for the General Election. Accordingly, in a couple of weeks, the Commission will start bi-weekly media briefings followed by weekly briefings as we get closer to the election. In the week leading to the election, there will be daily briefings.

“I seize this opportunity to call on all citizens to participate fully in all electoral activities, particularly the ongoing display of the Register of Voters for claims and objections, as well as collection of Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs). I also call on political parties and political leaders to conduct their campaigns peacefully, eschewing divisiveness, rancour and violence.

“As Nigerians are aware, election is a multi-stakeholder activity. We will continue to play our part diligently and conscientiously. We appeal to all stakeholders and, above all, citizens to play their own part so that working together, we can have the elections that Nigerians yearn for, and which the world expects from us.”

He appealed to political parties and other stakeholders to eschew violence and rancour and conduct their campaigns peacefully, while pledging that INEC would play its part diligently and conscientiously in the elections, and further urged Nigerians to fully participate in all electoral activities, including the ongoing display of the register of voters for claims and objections, as well as collection of permanent voter cards.