The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured that the 2023 general elections will go ahead as planned.
According to The Nation Newspaper, the electoral umpire revealed this as Nigerians continue to suffer as a result of fuel and cash shortages.
Professor Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman of INEC, gave the assurance after briefing the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday, January 8.
According to him, the Commission has resolved the initial challenges posed by scarcity, and the Commission has already found solutions to the two major concerns, Channels Television added.
He said:
“I can tell you two of these challenges quickly. The first one is availability of petroleum products. We had a meeting with the National Union of Road Transport Workers and they raised that as an issue of concern. Immediately after that meeting, we interfaced with the leadership of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and right now, there is a technical committee, working.
“The idea is for them to avail us the use of their over 900 land mega stations as well as floating mega stations nationwide, for the purpose of stocking products to ensure that the Commission doesn’t suffer any encumbrances in movement of personnel and materials for the election.“The second one is the currency issue and again, we had an engagement yesterday with the Governor of the Central Bank and he assured us that the Commission will not suffer any encumbrances on that score.
“Fortunately for us, all our accounts, national and state, are held by the apex bank. So we raised those challenges, but we have found a solution to those challenges. So be rest assured that the election will hold as scheduled; on the 25th of February for national and on the 11th of March for the state election.”