EDITOR’S PICK
EKO HOT BLOG reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission on Thursday revealed that it will spend at least N239.2bn on voting materials and vehicles for the 2023 general elections.
This is according to the 2023 General Election Project Plan, which was unveiled by INEC on Thursday in Abuja.
The commission stated that N239.2bn, or 78.44% of its N305bn budget, would be spent on 10 critical items, including ballot papers, operational vehicles, ballot boxes, ad hoc worker allowances, the printing of result sheets, logistics, and the procurement of accreditation devices.
Also included in the N239.2bn budget is the N27.1bn set aside by the commission for possible run-off elections, including the one for the presidential poll.
Run-off elections are held when there is no clear winner in a general poll.
A breakdown of the document, 2023 General Election Project Plan, shows that the highest single component would be the procurement of accreditation devices which will gulp N105.2bn. This also constitutes 34.51 per cent of the total election budget of N305bn.
The allowance for ad hoc workers, which would number more than one million individuals, is N23.7bn, while N23bn has been set aside for election logistics costs, which comprise the movement, deployment, and retrieval of men and equipment for the elections.
INEC will also spend N20.6bn on ballot paper printing and N12.7 bn on non-sensitive materials. The commission budgeted N9.5 bn for the printing of result sheets, N7.8bn for the procurement of vote boxes, and another N5.39bn for the same purpose. The electoral authority will also spend N3.9bn on operating vehicles.
INEC highlighted in a figure displaying a comparison of the 2019 and 2023 general election budgets that whereas N189bn was set aside for the last elections, the 2023 general elections will need N305bn.
It noted that while the country had 84 million registered voters in the last elections, it would have about 100 million voters next year. Also, while 119, 973 polling units existed last year, the next elections will have 176, 846 polling units. It noted that while the average cost per voter was $7.38 in 2019, it had dropped to $5.39 per voter.
Meanwhile, the commission stated on Thursday that no amount of security challenges would prevent the 2023 general election from taking place.
The Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, stated this during the public presentation of the 2022-2026 strategic plan and the 2023 Election Project Plan in Abuja.
Yakubu’s assurance came barely days after elder statesman, Chief Afe Babalola (SAN), called on the country to set up an interim national government next year instead of holding an election. He proposed that the interim government would birth a new constitution after which elections would take place.
Others had also expressed fears over the security situation in the North-West and the South-East which could scuttle the elections.
However, the INEC chairman said, no amount of security challenges would stop the conduct of the 2023 general election.
The commission also said that about one million electoral officials, both regular and ad hoc staff would be deployed to 176,846 polling units in 8,809 Wards and 774 Local Government Areas in the country.
He said, “As you may be aware, the election will be conducted for 1,491 constituencies nationwide made up of one presidential constituency, 109 senatorial districts, 360 federal constituencies, 28 governorship elections and 993 state constituencies.
“An estimated one million electoral officials (both permanent and temporary or ad hoc staff) will be deployed across the country to 176,846 polling units in 8,809 Wards and 774 Local Government Areas.” The election will be governed by a new Electoral Act 2022, which includes many progressive provisions that will strengthen the commission’s capacity to conduct elections and better manage the electoral process.
“We have carefully listened to Nigerians’ demand for seamless processes, particularly in terms of improved voter education, better voter distribution to polling units, quality training of election personnel, the functionality of electronic devices, improved logistics, prompt polling unit opening, and the availability of assistive devices for persons with disabilities at polling units, as well as greater transparency in results.”
Yakubu said the commission was aware of the security challenges and their impact on the electoral process, noting that it would continue to engage early and intensely with the security agencies to ensure the safety of our personnel and materials, accredited observers and the media and, above all, the voters.
“Clearly, these are challenging times but we are determined that elections must hold in 2023. However, this is a shared responsibility. INEC plays a critical role but the commission alone cannot deliver the elections we all desire. I, therefore, appeal to all Nigerians to join hands with us in ensuring that we make a success of the process”, he said.
He added that the activities in the timetable and schedule of activities for the 2023 general election are firm and fixed, adding that all stakeholders are advised to take this into consideration in planning their activities.
The Country Director of the International Foundation for Electoral Systems, Seray Jah, who was represented by IFES Deputy Director, Obaje Ukeh, said the foundation was ready to continue its support to INEC for the success of the forthcoming election.
Jah said the five-year plan and the election project plan act as a road map that will provide focus and guidance for INEC to succeed in achieving its mandate by ensuring seamless conduct of the 2023 general elections.
Also speaking, Babagana Monguno, the National Security Adviser and co-chairman of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committees on Elections Security, who was represented by Sanusi Galadima, assured Nigerians and development partners of security agencies’ commitment to protect lives and property at the polls.
Yabagi Sani, chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council, pledged IPAC’s support for the smooth conduct of the 2023 general elections and praised INEC for its efforts to improve the country’s electoral process.
“Today, we have seen yet another very significant development in INEC’s commendable efforts to fine-tune the operations of the electoral process in Nigeria for greater service delivery,” he explained.
“It is also an occasion of manifestation of the unfolding trend of the application of science, technology and proactive prognosis, planning and solutions to challenges and situations even before they manifest.
He said the project plan was a reflection of efforts at critical assessments and reappraisal to improve on strategies and conduct transparent and acceptable elections in Nigeria.
INEC always prepares for a run-off, the first presidential ballot may not produce a winner – REC
Explaining the commission’s preparations for run-off elections, the Niger State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof Sam Egwu, in an interview with one of our correspondents, said in every election, INEC is always prepared for a run-off poll.
He said, “In every election, INEC prepares for a run-off and it will not be different for 2023. It’s because for presidential and governorship (elections), it’s possible to win majority votes without meeting geographical spread.
“It is possible not to produce a winner in the first ballot because, your majority of votes, you have to get 25 per cent in at least two-thirds of the local governments for governorship and two-thirds of the states for the presidential.
“So, in every election, there is the possibility of a run-off; therefore, there is always preparation in case there is a run-off.” Previously, the law required you to complete the run-off within seven days. However, a constitutional amendment in 2010 changed it to 21 days.”
In addition, Festus Okoye, INEC National Electoral Commissioner for Information and Voter Education, explained to The PUNCH in an interview, “The framers of the Nigerian Constitution envisaged a President with a national mandate.” According to this supposition, a President must be elected by a majority of the Nigerian people, and the President must also have a significant geographical spread.
“Premised on this, a candidate for an election to the office of the President shall be deemed to have been elected were there being more than two candidates for the election he has the highest number of votes cast at the election; and he has not less than one-quarter of the votes cast at the election in each of at least two-thirds of all the States in the Federation and the Federal capital territory, Abuja.
“In default, there shall be a second election (which in popular parlance is called a run-off), which shall be conducted within twenty-one days of the result of the election. The conditions for the second election are adumbrated in section 134 of the Constitution.
FURTHER READING
“The Commission intends to hold both the primary and secondary elections.” When the declaration of results and reverse logistics for the main election will take nearly two weeks, the Commission cannot begin new planning for a second election. Since the return to civil democratic governance, the commission has always planned for a second election alongside the primary poll. No national Commissioner can foresee the future or forecast the outcome of any election. This commission will keep planning, planning effectively, and planning strategically.”
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