Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, has provided an explanation for why the commission will not, as usual, electronically transmit unprocessed election results on Saturday.

Yakubu stated that Presiding Officers would prefer to be required to use the Bimodal Voter Authentication System (BVAS) to photograph the result sheets of each polling unit and upload them on the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IREV) for Nigerians during a meeting with leaders of Foreign Election Observation Missions in Nigeria.

2023: Presidential Election Will Hold As Scheduled – Security Council.

President Muhammadu Buhari, on Wednesday, presided over the National Security Council (NSC) meeting ahead of the 2023 general elections.
According to the security council, the Presidential and National Assembly elections fixed for Saturday, February 25, 2023, will hold.
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, as well as the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Usman Alkali Baba, addressed the State House correspondents at the end of the meeting.
The maiden council meeting in 2023 was held at the Council Chambers of the State House, Abuja.
According to Malami, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, the three service chiefs, the IGP, and heads of other security agencies briefed the council about their readiness to provide the necessary security for elections on Saturday.

Malami noted that based on their statements, the council gave a marching order that the February 25 election should hold as planned.

2023: Labour Party Senatorial Candidate, Chukwu Shot Dead.
Candidate of the Labour Party in Saturday’s Enugu East Senatorial District election, Mr Oyibo Chukwu, has been killed 48 hours to the election.
Chukwu was killed at Amechi, Awkunanaw local government area of Enugu while returning from a campaign rally.

He was murdered alongside five of supporters.
The killers were also said to have burnt him and his supporters who were with him inside his car.

The governorship candidate of the Labour Party, Chijioke Edeoga, confirmed the unfortunate incident, saying his party members are being targeted for assassination by political parties which felt threatened by the rise of the Labour Party in the state.
Peter Obi, Labour Party Presidential Candidate, hails from South East, which has been a flashpoint, even before the election period.

Suspected militants have vowed to cripple election in the region but security forces have assured residents that they are on top of the situation.
The Enugu police command is yet to react to the incident, which Edeoga insists is politically motivated.

2023 Elections: Four Borno LGAs To Vote In Super Camps.

Super camps have been provisioned in four local government areas in Borno State to enable the residents to exercise their civic rights in Saturday’s Presidential, Senate and House of Representatives elections. There are twenty-seven (27) local government areas in the state, but due to insecurity, elections would not be possible in some parts of the state.

While eligible voters go out this weekend to vote for their preferred candidates for all contested positions, Guzamala, Marte, Abadam and Kukawa LGAs in Borno will vote at the established super camps.
It is understood that voters from Guzamala are to vote at Gajiram and Nganzai LGAs while their counterparts from Marte LGAvare to assemble at the local government headquarters, Monguno LGA, for the exercise.

Voters from Abadam LGA are to exercise their franchise at Damasak and Mobbar LGAs, while their counterparts from Kukawa LGA also gather at Monguno to cast their votes.
The Borno State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Ibrahim Magaji Mohammed, confirmed the development to newsmen today in Maiduguri, the state capital.
He said the super camps would be cleared for them in schools or government buildings.
Mohammed said that security agencies had made adequate preparations ahead of the exercise at flashpoints across the state.

2023: Peter Obi Has No Pathway To Become Next President – APC.

The All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council (APC PCC) has said the flagbearer of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, does not have a pathway to become the next President.
The Director of Media and Strategic Communication of the APC PCC, Dele Alake, stated this while speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday.
He said opinion polls such as ANAP/NOI and Nextier which predicted Obi as the winner or preferred candidate to win the presidential election are creating grounds for unrest, and giving the LP flagbearer false hope.
Alake noted that the presidential election is between his principal, Bola Tinubu, and the standard bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar.
The APC chieftain maintained that even though the presidential race is between Tinubu and Atiku, the PDP candidate will be roundly defeated on Saturday at the polls.

2023: No Sit-At-Home On Election Day – MASSOB Declares.

The Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has declared there won’t be any sit-at-home on election day in the South-East region of the country.
The group called on its members to go out on election day and vote for candidates of their choice because there won’t be anything such as an election boycott on that day.
According to MASSOB, even though it would continue to push for the restoration of the Independent State of Biafra, pending the actualization of the dream, the South-East region would not be in a vacuum.
The group in a statement signed by its National Director of Information, Samuel Edeson on Wednesday urged Ndigbo to ignore any such calls as sit at home and come out en masse on election day and vote for their preferred candidates who won’t sell out Ndigbo for their pecuniary interest.
MASSOB observed that it was the only way to avoid a repeat of the Imo State debacle, where, according to it, a governor was imposed against the will of the people.

2023 Election: I’ll Only Take Instructions From INEC – Buhari.

President Muhammadu Buhari has on Wednesday stated that he would be taking instructions from Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the 2023 election.
Buhari stated this while speaking with the chairman of INEC, Prof Mahmoud Yakubu, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, over the forthcoming elections.
The unscheduled meeting, according to Buhari, was at the instance of Yakubu, insisting that it was all part of the efforts for the elections to hold successfully.

The president also hinted about the meeting while explaining his few minutes of lateness to the commissioning and handover of security equipment valued at over N12bn to the military and Nigeria Police Force.
“I am being grounded by INEC. You know next Saturday is a great day for us, and I take instructions from INEC so that I make sure there will be no excuses for the successful election,” Buhari told his guests.

Naira Redesign: Supreme Court Fixes Judgement For March 3.

Judgment for the suit filed by some States against the naira swap policy of the Federal Government has been scheduled for 3 March.
A nine-member panel led by Justice John Okoro announced the date after taking final arguments from lawyers to parties in the cases.
It was reported earlier that the Supreme Court has resumed hearing on the naira redesign case filed by the state governments of Kaduna, Kogi, Zamfara, and several others against the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
The states are urging the Supreme Court to compel President Muhammadu Buhari, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, CBN, and commercial banks to recirculate the old N200, N500, and N1,000 banknotes as Nigeria’s legal tender.
Kogi, Zamfara and Kaduna had also filed contempt proceeding against CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele, and Malami for their failure to comply with the Supreme Court order extending the deadline for the use of old N200, N500 and N1,000 notes.

2023: IGP Restricts Movement From 12am To 6pm On Election Day.

The Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, has ordered a restriction of all forms of vehicular movement on roads, waterways, and other forms of transportation, from 12 am to 6 pm on Election Day.
This is with the exception of those on essential services such as officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, election observers, ambulances responding to medical emergencies, and firefighters among others.

This was revealed by the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, in a Wednesday night statement.
Adejobi said, “Consequent to the first part of the 2023 general elections, the presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled to hold on Saturday, February 25, 2023, across all states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, the IG, Usman Baba has ordered a restriction of all forms of vehicular movement on roads, waterways, and other forms of transportation, from 12 am to 6 pm on election day with the exception of those on essential services such as INEC officials, electoral observers, ambulances responding to medical emergencies, firefighters, etc.”
The order, according to the spokesperson for the NPF, is part of measures emplaced to ensure a safe, secure, and conducive environment for the conduct of elections.

He noted that it is aimed at ensuring public order management, the safety of electorates, as well as assisting the security agencies in effective policing, thereby preventing hoodlums and criminally-minded elements from disrupting the electoral process.
Adejobi said, “Similarly, the IG sternly warns all security aides and escorts to desist from accompanying their principals and politicians to polling booths and collation centres during the election as anyone found flouting this directive will be severely sanctioned.
“He emphasised that only security personnel specifically assigned to election duties are to be seen within and around the designated election booths and centres.

“Also, the ban on the unauthorised use of sirens, revolving lights, covered number plates, and tinted glasses is still in force, and violators would be sanctioned appropriately.

“All state-established and owned security outfits/organisations, quasi-security units, and privately-owned guard and security outfits are also barred from participating in election security management,” he added.
While empathising with well-meaning citizens on the inconveniences the restriction might cause, the IG urges all active electorates to be law-abiding and turn out en masse to exercise their franchise.
Adejobi added, “He however warns that the NPF will deal decisively with any individual or group(s) that might want to test our common resolve and might to ensure a peaceful election.

“The IG, therefore, enjoins all citizens to shun vote buying, vote selling, hate speech, misinformation, and disinformation, snatching of ballot boxes, and other criminal act(s) as the Force and other security agencies will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that all violators of extant laws, most especially the Electoral Act 2022 (as amended), are brought to book.”
The police further urged all members of the public to contact the NPF and the Joint Election Monitoring and Operations Room domiciled at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, via the ‘NPF Rescue Me App’ available on Android and ios, or via the NPF Rescue Me Emergency Toll-free line on 08031230631 to report suspicious persons, activities or request security response.
“Similarly, other joint operations/election situation room numbers will be released by all state police commands respectively, for emergency contact.” Adejobi noted.

2023 Presidential Election: Atiku, Tinubu, Obi, Others Sign Peace Accord.

President Muhammadu Buhari, on Wednesday, witnessed the signing of a peace accord by candidates participating in the presidential election scheduled for Saturday.
The signing of the peace accord was held at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, and organized by the National Peace Committee, led by former Nigerian leader, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd).

Also, members of the committee such as Yakubu Gowon, and the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Mathew Hassan Kukah, were present at the signing of the peace accord.
Candidates present at the event were Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP), Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Omoyele Sowore of the African Action Congress (AAC), among others.
The peace accord signing is meant to commit the presidential hopefuls to ensure violent free conduct of their campaigns ahead of the polls.

2023: We Are Ready For Election, No Postponement – INEC.

The chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu says the presidential and National Assembly elections will hold on Saturday, 23rd February as scheduled.
The INEC chairman gave the assurance on Wednesday in Abuja at the signing of the national peace accord by presidential candidates
According to Prof. Yakubu, the electoral umpire is ready to conduct a free and fair election and Nigerians should be rest assured that their votes will count.
The INEC boss further gave assurances that the commission is neutral and has no preferred candidate in the forthcoming general elections

2023: Nigerians Are Not Ready For Igbo President – Kalu.

The Chief Whip of the Senate, Orji Uzor Kalu says he is not sure Nigerians are ready to vote for an Igbo president in the 2023 general elections.
The former Abia State Governor stated on Wednesday that based on information available to him, 2023 is not the best time for the southeast to push for an Igbo president.
He made the submission on Wednesday during an appearance on The 2023 Verdict, a Channels Television programme on the 2023 elections.
According to him, the South-East needs the support of the other five regions in the country to win the presidency but as of now, the region is not playing practical politics.
“It is not the best outing for us (Igbo people) because for you to become the President of Nigeria, you need other regions,” Kalu said.
The Labour Party (LP) candidate, Peter Obi who is of Igbo extraction, is one of the 18 presidential candidates in the 2023 contest and he is viewed as one of the major contenders.

However, Kalu who is a senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Abia North Senatorial District by his submission, has dismissed the chances of Obi.
He argued that to clinch the presidency, Igbos must move away from emotional politics to practical politics.