Olusegun Olanrewaju
President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has no reason not to conduct free, fair, and credible elections in 2023 as he has approved all that was requested by the electoral umpire.

Buhari said this during an interactive session entitled, “A conversation with President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria,’’ co-hosted by the United State Institute of Peace (USIP), the International Republican Institute, the National Endowment for Democracy, and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems.

In a statement made available yesterday by his Senior Special Assistant in Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the president declared that since 2015, the conduct of ‘our’ elections has continued to improve steadily.

He said,” From the 2019 general elections, the by-elections and the off-season elections in Edo, Ekiti, Anambra, and Osun states were conducted in largely improved contexts to the satisfaction of contestants and voters.

“That is what we hope for in 2023. Through the observatory roles of the international community, the credibility of the elections can be further enhanced to make the acceptability of the outcome to the contestants and political parties a non-issue.”

Delving into the issue of democracy in the West African sub-region, Buhari said Nigeria would “aggressively work together to improve the quality of governance in West Africa, where the survival of democracy, is currently challenged.”

The President said this could be done through targeted investments that can enhance dividends of democracy and creation of robust means of livelihood for the people, as well as promote accountability and transparency by the political class.

Buhari was quoted to have said,” I call on all of you present, to continue to partner with us and our electoral body, for the needed collaborative efforts which are critical to deepening and stabilizing democracy in Nigeria and the rest of Africa.

“The recent reversals witnessed in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea are most unfortunate indeed and ECOWAS continues to effectively remain engaged with these countries.

“This is to restore democracy to all the Member-States of ECOWAS as indeed the entire African continent.”

Buhari thanked former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Johnnie Carson, and his team for inviting him back to the Institute after the last visit in 2015.

He recounted his outing in 2015, shortly after he assumed office, wherein he spoke extensively on the vision and the focus of his administration in the three critical areas of security, economy, and fighting corruption.

He said, ‘‘I am, therefore, exceptionally pleased today, that this stage which served as my opening act has once more presented itself as the curtains are almost being drawn, for the opportunity to share experiences and discuss the last seven and half years.”

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*Politicians buying PVCs are wasting their time- Commission

Meanwhile, INEC yesterday sent a warning to politicians buying Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) to manipulate the 2023 general elections that they are engaging in ‘futile efforts.

According to the electoral body, the Bimodal Voter Registration System (BVAS), the technology to be used for the accreditation and authentication of voters come 2023, “will reject biometric data of persons who are not original owners of the traded PVCs”.

The commission stated through its national commissioner, Festus Okoye, on Channels Television’s programme, Sunday Politics, “In terms of any politician bypassing the BVAS, I want to tell you that that will not happen. That is an impossibility,”

Recall that two non-governmental organizations (NGOs), the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) and Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) had alleged that politicians were buying PVCs from poor voters to manipulate the next elections.

However, Okoye, yesterday described the plan by the alleged desperate politicians harvesting PVCs to rig the next election as ‘an impossibility’.

He said it is an electoral offence to be found with a PVC that doesn’t belong to one, adding that the security agencies have the responsibility to go after such individuals and prosecute them.

Okoye’s words, “Some politicians are very optimistic, they normally plan for the rainy day. They are still thinking that there is a possibility that they can beat the BVAS that we are going to use for voter accreditation and authentication, but their exercise will be an exercise in futility.

“Anybody who is purchasing a permanent voter card is just engaging in an exercise in futility. The only thing any person can do is to make sure the voter does not vote on Election Day.

“But for you to come to the polling unit on Election Day with a voter’s card belonging to someone else, and you attempt to vote with it, that is an impossibility, the BVAS will not capture your fingerprint.”

The INEC commissioner also said polling units had been removed from shrines, churches, mosques, and homes of powerful politicians to ensure electoral integrity.

He enjoined voters to support the commission’s efforts through shared responsibility and mandate protection to ensure free and fair elections in 2023.

*Violate electoral laws, go to jail, the boss tells NYSC members

In another development, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has warned corps members willing to participate in the 2023 general elections to be neutral and apolitical.

Its acting Director-General (D-G), Christy Uba, said this while addressing corps members at the Mbaukwu/Umuawulu Permanent Orientation Camp, Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State, on Saturday.

Uba witnessed the cultural carnival of the scheme organized for members of 2023 Batch C in Anambra State.

The acting DG said election duty was voluntary for corps members, adding that those who wished to take part must eschew all forms of malpractices that could undermine the integrity of the poll or the reputation of the scheme.

She said the NYSC would not hesitate to surrender any corps member with a proven case of electoral malfeasance to the state to face the laws of the land.

“If you are to participate in the 2023 election, please note that it is an ad hoc assignment, you must be neutral and apolitical.

“Do not participate in a wrong manner, you are not a politician as corps members, you may be in the future but for now, you are corps members.”

She added, “If you run afoul of any electoral law, you are going to prison, the NYSC cannot cover you up. Once they come for you stating that you run afoul of the law, we will surrender you to the state.”

According to her, “Participation in the election is voluntary; it is optional. You have a choice to make, but if you have decided to participate, make sure you take part in all the training and sensitization so that you can understand your role and boundaries.”

The Ag DG advised the corps members to imbibe all the training they were getting in camp and invest in post-camp entrepreneurial skill acquisition, to help them master their various trades and be job creators.