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Nigeria’s 2023 Elections Can’t Be Rigged, INEC Says
By Derrick Bangura
Following insinuation that the 2023 general election could be rigged scientifically, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, Saturday vowed that the commission would do everything in its power to protect the sanctity of the ballot
Yakubu has also promised that the commission would get feedback concerning the calls for the extension of the Continuous Voters’ Registration (CVR).
Yakubu spoke at a pre-event dinner organised on Saturday by the European Union (EU), where Nigeria’s music stars featured in the Youth Vote Count 2.0 mega concert held at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos, interacted with officials of the commission.
He promised that the electoral body would ensure that all eligible Nigerians willing to register as voters in the current CVR exercise are allowed to do so.
Yakubu has also allayed the fears being expressed in certain quarters that the 2023 elections could be rigged, promising that the commission would do everything in its power to protect the sanctity of the ballot.
He debunked the claim that the Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) would expire, clarifying that the PVCs have no expiry date.
On the fears being expressed in certain quarters that elections could be rigged, the INEC Chairman said the commission would do everything in its power to protect the sanctity of the ballot.
He said: “We have been hearing many stories about ‘scientific rigging’ or ‘photochromic ballot papers’ where, according to them, when you thumbprint for a party of your choice, your vote will move to another political party on the ballot paper as it drops inside the ballot box.
“The best way to protect the sanctity of the ballot is what happens at the polling unit. There are no collation centres where ballot boxes are taken to. The ballot boxes are emptied, sorted out, the votes are counted, recorded on a result sheet, and then uploaded to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV)
“And I’ll like to advise all of you to register on the IReV portal. On election day, when voting ends at the polling unit, the results are immediately uploaded to the portal once the processes are completed. We are the first and so far, the only election management body in Africa that does so. We started it in August 2010 with the Nasarawa State Constituency bye-election. So, you can see the result of your polling unit on election day. And since we started, I keep asking: is there any discrepancy between the result uploaded to the IReV and the results given to polling agents at the polling units? I haven’t heard of any. So, be rest assured that we will protect the sanctity of the ballot, first at the most important level, which is the polling unit, and subsequently the results that are collated at the different levels.”
The INEC chairman also debunked the rumour making the rounds that the commission was deliberately preventing registrants from a particular section of the country from registering in the current exercise.
Responding to calls for an extension of the CVR due to the surge in the number of young people trooping the commission’s offices across the country to register, Yakubu said: “We are concerned like all Nigerians. We are appreciative of the fact that young people and Nigerians generally are trooping out in large numbers to register.
“For us, it’s a measure of confidence that people have in the system and that is why they are coming out to register. We’ll never let the young people of Nigeria down. Whatever it takes, we will ensure that those who are seeking to register to have the opportunity to do so.
“Yesterday in Abuja, we invited all the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) nationwide and we discussed what we can do to ensure that no Nigerian is left out in the current voter registration exercise. What we identified immediately is that we need additional equipment, and we need to create additional registration centres.
“So, in addition to what we did earlier, the commission has approved 209 additional machines to be deployed to ease the pressure nationwide. And we identified three areas of pressure based on the discussion we had: the entire South-east region; the big apple – Lagos, and Kano. There is also pressure coming from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). We’ll continue to respond to the pressure.
“For this concert, the commission deployed 30 additional machines to Lagos, which they used for the CVR exercise since Monday (6th June). These machines are not going back to Abuja. They will remain in Lagos to respond to the pressure.”
He added: “INEC will do whatever it takes to ensure that Nigerians can register, vote and we’ll protect the votes cast by Nigerians. INEC is not a political party. The choice of who becomes whatever in Nigeria democratically lies in the hands of Nigerians. Our responsibility is to protect the voter.”
Yakubu said the INEC would, within the next one week, observe the effects of the remedies being put in place to ease the pressure and take further action based on the outcome of the observation.
He urged the music stars to take advantage of their large followership to encourage young people to register, collect their Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) and vote on election day.
He told them: “There are some things I would like you to please the bear in mind. Messaging is very important, and you are the masters and mistresses of messaging. When you say one thing, a million people will listen to you. But I would have to say the same thing a thousand times before I get 10 people to listen to me.
“There are three messages I want you to emphasise: Encourage young people to register, but that is only the first step. The second step is that, when they register, they have to collect their PVCs, because registering is one thing, collecting the PVC is another. You can’t go to the polling unit on election day and say – here I come INEC, I’ve registered. You won’t vote until you have your PVC. Then, they should use the PVCs, come out and vote on election day. The message consistently is to vote, not fight. Register, collect your PVCs and vote. They have a friend in INEC”.
Yakubu also debunked another rumour that the PVCs would expire, insisting that the PVCs have no expiration date.
The Federal Government has signed a Programme for Country Partnership (PCP) agreement with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) to drive Nigeria’s industrial transformation.
At the signing ceremony in Abuja on Wednesday, the Minister of State for Industry, Sen. John Enoh, emphasised the significance of the agreement in repositioning the country’s industrial sector.
Enoh said that the partnership aligned with Nigeria’s commitment to rebuilding its industrial base to achieve structural economic transformation.
He said that the Industrial Revolution Work Group (IWG) had been inaugurated to coordinate the revitalisation of key industrial assets and value chains.
According to Enoh, the partnership comes at a time when Nigeria is moving with clarity and urgency to rebuild its industrial base.
He said that it would boost economic growth, and also ensure structural transformation that empowers the people and reduces dependency on primary exports.
Enoh said that the IWG, which he co-chaired with the President of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Francis Meshioye, was a stakeholder platform designed to address systemic bottlenecks and fast-track industrial zone development.
The minister said that the PCP aligned with the objectives of the IWG, focusing on agro-industrial transformation, SME development, green and digital transition, and skills for industrial competitiveness.
He expressed optimism that UNIDO’s technical expertise and global perspective would enhance Nigeria’s industrialisation efforts through infrastructure development and catalytic interventions.
“We welcome your presence at the table and look forward to integrating your insights into the group’s core operations.
“Nigeria is laying the foundation for the next chapter in its industrial history by modernising institutions, reforming policies, and strengthening coordination across all levels of government,” he said.
Enoh reiterated the government’s commitment to fostering multilateral and bilateral cooperation, urging all stakeholders to transition from agreements to tangible execution.
“As we sign today, we do so with resolve not for the ceremony, but for community-medium impact.
“Let us move together from potential to productivity, from agreement to execution, and from policy to prosperity,” he said.
The Minister Budget and Economic Planning, Sen. Abubakar Bagudu, said that the PCP was expected to boost manufacturing, enhance access to renewable energy, and create opportunities for small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
Bagudu said that it would also strengthen Nigeria’s participation in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring the successful implementation of the programme, adding that Nigeria remained open to international investments and partnerships.
“Nigeria is determined to achieve its economic vision, and we will stay the course,” he said.
The UNIDO Director-General, Gerd Müller, described the PCP as a new phase in Nigeria’s longstanding partnership with the organisation, which dates back 40 years.
“This initiative focuses on six key areas, including industrial policy, innovation and technology, value chain development, and sustainable energy solutions.
“It will directly support Nigeria’s National Development Plan and the African Union’s Agenda 2063,” Müller said.
The UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Mohammed Fall, emphasised that the signing of the PCP marked the beginning of a long-term collaboration to drive Nigeria’s sustainable development.
Fall acknowledged the challenges facing the country but reaffirmed the UN’s commitment to working alongside Nigerian authorities and development partners to implement impactful initiatives.
He highlighted the role of UNICEF and other UN agencies in supporting Nigeria’s economic and humanitarian efforts.
He assured stakeholders that the UN remained dedicated to helping Nigeria transition toward a more resilient and self-sufficient economy.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the signing ceremony was attended by representatives of Government, the European Union, UNIDO, and other key stakeholders in Nigeria’s industrial sector.
The National Park Service (NPS) has assured Nigerians of its ongoing efforts to mitigate climate change through carbon reduction.
Dr Ibrahim Goni, the Conservator-General (C-G) of the NPS, made this commitment in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday.
The C-G stated that the approval for the establishment of 10 new national parks in the country would contribute to carbon reduction.
“The seven national parks provide a total area of vegetation of 20,000 square kilometres, and we are confident that it would sequestrate carbon by 4.8 million parts.
“This means that with the introduction of the new 10 national parks, carbon dioxide is going to be sequestrated”.
Goni further advised residents to engage in afforestation to reclaim lands that have been degraded due to erosion.
He commended the Federal Government for its efforts in carbon mediation and for planting 25 million trees to cushion the effects of climate change in the country.
Goni also expressed satisfaction with the federal government’s tree-planting efforts, describing it as a huge step towards conserving the country’s natural resources.
“In 2020, the federal government approved the establishment of 10 new national parks”.
NAN reports that the 10 new national parks are located in Alawa National Park in Niger, Apoi and Edumenun National Parks in Bayelsa, Galgore National Park in Kano state, and Hadejia Wetland National Park in Jigawa.
Others are Kampe National Park in Kwara, Kogo National Park in Katsina, Marhi National Park in Nasarawa state, Oba Hill National Park in Osun and Pandam National Park in Plateau.
The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) has commended President Bola Tinubu for appointing seasoned professionals to lead the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC).
NSE’s President, Margaret Oguntala, stated this in a statement on Wednesday, in Abuja, describing the move as “putting the right peg in the right hole.”
Oguntala praised Tinubu for ensuring that individuals with vast engineering, technical and leadership experience would manage affairs in the NNPC Ltd.
She emphasised that the new leadership would usher in a transformative era for NNPC Ltd, fostering efficiency, transparency, and innovation in the oil and gas sector.
“NSE extends heartfelt congratulations to President Tinubu, on the appointment of Bashir Bayo Ojulari, as the new Group Chief Executive Officer.
“Ahmadu Musa Kida, as Non-Executive Chairman of NNPC Ltd and other board members.
“This significant decision underscores the President’s unwavering commitment to revitalising NNPC Ltd and enhances the energy security of Nigeria through the oil and gas sector.
“I commend President Tinubu for ensuring that individuals with vast engineering, technical, and leadership experience are at the helm of NNPC Ltd,’’ she said.
She said that the move aligned with global best practices in energy governance.
Oguntala said that the strategic appointment was pivotal to achieving sustainable energy security, infrastructural growth, and economic development.
She further expressed optimism that the new leadership would usher in a transformative era for NNPC Ltd, fostering efficiency, transparency, and innovation in the oil and gas sector.
She said that NSE remained committed to supporting the administration’s drive toward national development and energy sustainability.
According to her, NSE looks forward to a fruitful collaboration with NNPC Ltd under its new leadership.
FG, UNIDO partner to strengthen Nigeria’s industrial future
National Park advocates carbon reduction for climate action
NSE lauds Tinubu on appointment of seasoned professionals at NNPC Ltd
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