As part of preparation towards 2023 general election, The Independent National Electoral Commission has lamented over the challenges it is facing as Nigerians setfor the 2023 elections.
The INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, in a brief meeting before the House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters, said that the recent flooding across the nation had destroyed at least than 20 offices of the commission.
Yakub umpire while appearing before the House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters to defend the budget proposed by the commission in the 2023 Appropriation Bill, said the situation had forced the agency to begin to look for new office spaces in new locations in some states.
He said, “We have office rent and residential rent. So many of our offices were attacked and some actually flooded after the recent floods. We have 20 offices in that situation after the recent floods. In some, we can repair and replace the damaged or lost equipment.
“Only two weeks ago, one political party served about 70 court processes on the commission in one day seeking to compel us to accept the nomination or substitution of its candidates long after the deadline provided in the timetable and schedule of activities for the 2023 general election had elapsed.
“Some of the cases will go up to the Supreme Court. The implication is that we are still dealing with issues of nomination of candidates thereby eating into vital rime for preparation of and procurement of sensitive materials for the materials. It also means that the courts will be dealing with the same issues long after the general election.”
