The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has declared that rigging has been completely “murdered” in preparation of the 2023 general elections with the signing of the Electoral Act, 2022, and the Bimodal Voter Registration System, BVAS, along with other stringent measures put in place by the commission.
Mahmood Yakubu, the national chairman of INEC, made this statement at a breakfast seminar hosted by the Christian Men’s Fellowship at St. James’ Anglican Church in Asokoro, Abuja. Yakubu expressed confidence that the general elections in 2023 would be free, fair, and credible rather than reeking of corruption.
The Chairman, who was represented by Chukwuemeke Ugbaoja, the Deputy Director Voters, Voter Education Provider, Election Monitoring/Observation, announced that clear-cut procedures would be used to verify the validity of the results.
“With the Electoral Act 2022, we have killed and buried election manipulation in this country,” he declared. That was the best thing that has ever happened to this country, I want to say with complete authority.
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“There is no way anybody can vote two times in this country again. It is not possible. The machine is there, you bring your voters card, they match it to the machine because your name and particulars have been configured into that machine. The card is placed side by side with the machine; your particulars would come up and if your particular did not come up, it means you don’t belong to that particular unit.
“Now suppose it comes up and your fingerprints did not show up, your facial did not come up which means it strayed into that machine, you will not vote and as you put your finger prints and it marks good and the machine records you. If your finger print fails, they will take your photographs and the moment the machine is placed before you, it records that you are the authentic owner of the card and you’re given a ballot to vote.”
However, he issued a warning to political parties and all other parties involved in the elections not to act suspiciously because doing so could result in serious repercussions.
IGP Alkali Baba Usman, who was represented by DCP Bode Ajajuni, said on his behalf: “The Nigerian Police Force and other security stakeholders will demonstrate professionalism and impartiality to ensure a free, fair, and credible election in 2023.”
