The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has disclosed that it has made adequate logistics for a possible run-off in the 2023 Presidential election.
The electoral commission said this is in line with its tradition of adequately preparing for all eventualities before an election.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, stated this during a meeting with Bureau Chiefs and Regional Editors of media organizations, in Abuja, Friday.
Represented by the National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Barr. Festus Okoye, the INEC Chairman said the commission has always prepared for all elections and that it would not have the time to start printing new ballot papers within a space of three weeks in the event of a tie.
“This is because the law gives the commission just 21 days within which to engage in reverse logistics and conduct a run-off election in case there’s no winner,” he said.
Okoye also disclosed that the commission will print a total of 187million ballot papers.
According to him, the preliminary registered voters in Nigeria stands at 93.5 million, noting that 9,518,188 new voters were added to the existing register of 84,004,084 voters. He said the commission will be making use of 93.5 million ballot papers on the 25th of February 2022 for the presidential election while the remaining 93.5million ballot papers will be for run off of the presidential election in case there is no clear winner.
He added that the commission decided to print 187 million ballot papers for the presidential elections, as it will be difficult to engage printers at a short notice and also the issue of logistics.
Speaking further, Okoye also advised Nigerians to follow the procedure outlined in the Electoral Act 2022 (as amended) to make their claims and objections on the voters’ register as displayed nationwide.
He said; “We will harvest all the claims, objections and complaints and carefully and objectively deal with them.
“The whole essence of the display is for Nigerians to double check the register and assist the Commission put in place a robust, comprehensive, and acceptable register.
“While it is Important to use the social media to point out errors, issues and challenges in the register, the correction of the errors and removal of malicious registrations must follow the procedure and sequence outlined in section 19 and 20 of the Electoral Act 2022.
“We urge members of the public to approach our Revision Officers for assistance in making their claims, objections, and complaints.
“We also encourage members of the public to visit the Commissions website and follow the protocols outlined therein in making their claims”.
On the collection of Permanent Voter Cards PVCs, he said; “We assure all Nigerians that the PVCs of those that registered between January 15, 2022 and July 31 2022, will be ready this month (November). The Chairman will give the exact date for collection.
“All those that registered within this period as well as all those that carried out transfer and those that applied for replacement will get their cards. Nigerians will have sufficient time for PVC collection.
“No Nigerian that validly and genuinely registered will be denied the opportunity of collecting his or her Permanent Voters Card.
“We plead that Nigerians should not wait till the 11th hour before approaching our Local Government Offices and the Wards for PVC collection.”
