Politics

BREAKING: 2023 elections may be cancelled due to insecurity, INEC warns

Published

3 years ago

January 9, 2023

Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has raised fresh alarms, warning that the forthcoming general elections face a serious threat of cancellation if the insecurity situation across the country does not improve.

INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, who expressed the concerns, also warned that the cancellation/postponement of elections in some constituencies due to the situation would not only hinder the declaration of elections results but also precipitate constitutional crisis.

Yakubu, who was represented by the Chairman, Board of Electoral Institute (BEI), Abdullahi Abdu Zuru, at the validation of election security training resources in Abuja on Monday, however said the commission was not leaving anything to chance in ensuring adequate security for election personnel, materials and processes.

He said, “We all appreciate the fact that election security is vital to democratic consolidation through provision of enabling environment for the conduct of free, fair, credible and inclusive elections and thus strengthening the electoral process.

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“Consequently, in preparation for the 2023 general elections, the commission is not leaving anything to chance in ensuring that intensive and extensive security are provided for election personnel, materials and processes.

“This is particularly significant to the commission given the current insecurity challenges in various parts the country and the fact that the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members constitute the core of the Polling Unit Election officials.

“Moreover, if the insecurity is not monitored and dealt with decisively, it could ultimately culminate in the cancellation and/or postponement of elections in sufficient constituencies to hinder declaration of elections results and precipitate constitutional crisis. This must not be allowed to happen and shall not be allowed to happen.

“Therefore, security personnel in particular and all election officials in general must be security conscious and alert to unusual activities in their environment and must be fully equipped to deal with any challenge at all times,” he charged.

Speaking further, he said, “To this end, the National Security Adviser, Gen. Mohammed Babagana Monguno, and the Chairman, INEC have jointly assured the nation that conducive environment will be provided for successful conduct of the 2023 general Election.

“Similarly, the Inspector General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, has conducted Election Security Management Workshops across the Six Geopolitical Zones. On its part the commission, through The Electoral Institute, has institutionalised the development and implementation of a cascaded training mechanism for security personnel as a critical component of its training plan.

“We are also aware that there is a new Electoral Legal Framework that will guide the 2023 as a result of the enactment of the Electoral Act 2022 which prompted the review of the INEC Regulations and Guidelines for Conduct of Elections 2022.

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“In particular, Sections 47(2), 60(1, 2 & 5), 62(1), 64(4a & 4b) and 64(5) of the Electoral Act 2022, which confers INEC with the power to use any technological device to transmit or transfer election results electronically are instructive in this regard.

“Emboldened by these legal protections, the commission introduced new innovative technologies and procedures and made commitments to the Nigeria People that (a) Continuous Verification, Accreditation and Voting will be conducted at the Polling Units using the Bimodal Verification and Accreditation System (BVAS) and (b) Real-Time Polling Unit-level results will be uploaded on to the INEC Results Viewing (IReV) Portal using the same BVAS.

“These commitments require innovative security strategies and deployments for protection of voters, election personnel, materials, equipment, the electoral processes as well as the general public and infrastructure.”

Commenting further, the commission said, “These innovative systems and processes minimize human errors and delays in results collation and improves the accuracy, transparency, and credibility of the results collation process thereby ensuring credibility of the process.

“They were tested during the Ekiti and Osun Governorship elections, held on June 18, 2022 and July 16, 2022, respectively. The Hon. Chairman INEC has severally assured the nation that the BVAS and IReV will be deployed during the 2023 General Elections.

“Reports on the conduct of security operatives during the elections conducted by the Commission specifically stand-alone Governorship Elections in Ekiti and Osun States have shown progressive and commendable improvement in their disposition to electoral training and professionalism on election duties.”

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In his goodwill message, the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), noted that the training of security personnel to be deployed for the poll is the antidote to peaceful elections.
In a speech delivered by the Country Director, Seray Jah, IFES said that; “managing security threats in the electioneering process is a tall order for INEC, which has the responsibility, together with Nigerian security agencies, of preventing, mitigating, and resolving electoral violence.

“To effectively do this, security personnel deployed during the elections would need adequate training on their roles and responsibilities during the election. The validation workshop with key stakeholders in elections security presents an opportunity to ratify the quality resources developed to train the security personnel as they prepare to deploy for the 2023 general elections. IFES commends TEI and INEC for putting the workshop.

“I want to use this opportunity once again to restate IFES’ commitment to continue partnering with INEC and its members in building a sustainable democracy in Nigeria. “INEC can count on our readiness to continually partner with the commission in achieving its mission of serving as an independent and effective Election Management Body committed to conducting free, fair, and credible elections for sustainable democracy in Nigeria.”

SUN

Related Topics:2023 election Featured INEC insecurity

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Adebayo Adelabu Resigns as Power Minister to Run for Oyo State Governorship

Published

11 hours ago

March 31, 2026

Trends Admin

Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu

Adebayo Adelabu Resigns as Power Minister to Run for Oyo State Governorship

Chief Adebayo Adelabu, Nigeria’s Minister of Power, has officially resigned from his ministerial position to focus on his bid for the Oyo State governorship ahead of the 2027 general elections. His resignation, dated March 26, 2026, was submitted to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in compliance with the Electoral Act 2026, which mandates political appointees intending to contest elective offices to vacate their posts before party primaries.

In a resignation letter, Adelabu expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve in the Tinubu administration, stating, “It has been a privilege contributing to the efforts aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s power sector under your Renewed Hope Agenda. My decision to resign is to enable me to fully pursue my aspiration to contest for the office of Governor of Oyo State and dedicate my time and resources to that endeavour.”

The minister’s exit follows a government directive issued via the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume, which required political appointees to resign by March 31, 2026, if they intended to contest elective offices in the 2027 elections. Other ministers, including Yusuf Tuggar (Foreign Affairs) and Yusuf Sununu (Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs), have also resigned to pursue governorship ambitions in Bauchi and Kebbi States, respectively.

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Adelabu, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Deputy Governor of Operations at the Central Bank of Nigeria, has previously contested the Oyo governorship under the APC in 2019 and the Accord Party in 2023. His resignation signals renewed focus on securing his party’s ticket and intensifying the Oyo State political race ahead of the 2027 elections.

His tenure as Power Minister coincided with public scrutiny over persistent electricity outages, which he addressed in a press conference, issuing a public apology to Nigerians. He acknowledged that erratic power supply had affected households, businesses, and industries, especially amid rising temperatures, and pledged to improve the situation before leaving office. During his term, Adelabu also oversaw key sector reforms, including a N501 billion bond issuance aimed at resolving long-standing liquidity issues in Nigeria’s electricity market.

As of his resignation, the federal government has not announced a replacement for the Ministry of Power, leaving a crucial cabinet role vacant ahead of ongoing reforms and infrastructure projects. Political analysts say Adelabu’s departure is likely to reshape both the federal cabinet and the Oyo governorship contest, as party stakeholders prepare for the primaries and eventual general election.

Adebayo Adelabu Resigns as Power Minister to Run for Oyo State Governorship

Politics

2027: Badagry elders rally Tinubu to back zone’s first Lagos governor

Published

13 hours ago

March 31, 2026

Trends Admin

2027: Badagry elders rally Tinubu to back zone’s first Lagos governor

A prominent elder statesman, Pa Andu Liadi Adio, has urged President Bola Tinubu to honour longstanding assurances that Lagos State’s governorship will be ceded to Badagry Division.

Speaking at his residence in Badagry, the 93-year-old said the time had come for the division to assume leadership after decades of perceived marginalisation and backed the aspiration of Dr. Samuel Mawuyon Ajose.

He appealed for patience among youths in the area, saying efforts were ongoing to ensure justice for the division in the state’s political arrangement.

Pa Adio expressed confidence that the President would not disappoint the people of Badagry in their quest to produce the next governor.

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He recalled that during his tenure as Lagos governor, President Tinubu had requested a representative from Badagry to serve in his administration, leading to the nomination of Hon. Olanrewaju Saka-Shenayon, who later served as Commissioner for Rural Development and Infrastructure.

According to him, that appointment debunked claims that Badagry lacked competent individuals to hold key positions in government.

In his remarks, former commissioner, Olanrewaju Saka-Shenayon, dismissed concerns over the political credentials of Dr. Ajose, describing him as a seasoned private sector player with a strong record of contributions to socio-economic development in Lagos West and the ruling All Progressives Congress.

Also lending her support, former House of Representatives member, Rafeequat Arinola Onabamiro, said Dr. Ajose possesses the experience and capacity to govern, citing his over three decades in the private sector.

She noted that past Lagos governors, including Babatunde Fashola and Akinwunmi Ambode, did not begin as career politicians but went on to leave impactful legacies.

Onabamiro lamented that since the creation of Lagos State in 1967, Badagry Division has yet to produce a governor, deputy governor, minister, or Secretary to the State Government.

She added that Lagos West Senatorial District is united in its support for Dr. Samuel Mawuyon Ajose’s governorship ambition ahead of the 2027 general elections.

2027: Badagry elders rally Tinubu to back zone’s first Lagos governor

Politics

PDP Crisis Deepens as Kebbi Lawmaker Joins APC

Published

18 hours ago

March 31, 2026

Trends Admin

Birnin Kebbi, Kalgo and Bunza Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Ibrahim Mohammed

PDP Crisis Deepens as Kebbi Lawmaker Joins APC

The member representing Birnin Kebbi, Kalgo and Bunza Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Ibrahim Mohammed, has officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), citing persistent internal crises within the opposition party.

Announcing his defection, the Kebbi lawmaker said the PDP has been plagued by prolonged leadership disputes, internal divisions, and recurring litigation, which he noted have significantly weakened the party’s ability to function effectively as a credible opposition platform.

According to him, the lingering crisis has made it increasingly difficult for committed members to contribute meaningfully to the party’s development and fulfil its democratic responsibilities. He added that the situation has created uncertainty and disunity across various levels of the party structure.

Mohammed disclosed that his decision followed extensive consultations with his constituents, political associates, and key stakeholders across his federal constituency, stressing that the move was made in the best interest of those he represents.

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“I have formally submitted my resignation letter to my PDP Ward Chairman in Nasarawa Ward and also notified the Speaker of the House of Representatives of my defection,” he said.

He explained that joining the APC would enable him to better serve his constituents and enhance his legislative effectiveness, particularly by aligning with the ruling party at the federal level.

The defection comes amid ongoing leadership tussles within the PDP, including disputes over party structure, legal battles, and disagreements among top party figures, which have continued to affect unity within the opposition.

Political observers say the development is part of a wider trend of defections from the PDP to the APC in recent months, raising concerns about the opposition party’s internal cohesion and its readiness for future elections.

Meanwhile, the APC has continued to consolidate its position in the National Assembly, with recent defections strengthening its numerical advantage, while the PDP faces increasing pressure to resolve its internal conflicts and retain key members.

PDP Crisis Deepens as Kebbi Lawmaker Joins APC