He identified the scarcity of petroleum products and the naira redesign as major challenges confronting INEC. However, Mr Yakubu said solutions were already in sight.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says the 2023 general elections will hold as scheduled despite fuel and new naira notes scarcity.

INEC chairman Mahmood Yakubu said this on Wednesday in Abuja when he fielded questions from State House Correspondents after he briefed the Federal Executive Council (FEC)on the level of preparedness for elections.

He identified the scarcity of petroleum products and the naira redesign as major challenges confronting INEC. However, Mr Yakubu said solutions were already in sight.

“We took members of the council through all the preparations we have put in place for the elections and the few challenges we are facing and the steps we have taken to address them.

“The first one is the availability of petroleum products. We had a meeting with the National Union of Road Transport Workers, and they raised that as an issue of concern,” Mr Yakubu said.

He said immediately after the meeting with the transport union, the commission interfaced with the leadership of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Ltd (NNPC).

“Right now, there is a technical committee working; the idea is for them to avail us the use of their over 900 lands mega as well as floating mega stations nationwide for the purpose of stocking products.

”This is to ensure that the commission doesn’t suffer any encumbrances in the movement of personnel and materials for the election.

“The second one is the currency issue, and again, we had an engagement yesterday with the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, and he assured us that the commission will not suffer any encumbrances on that front.

”Fortunately for us, all our accounts, national and state, are held by the apex bank,’’ he said.

Mr Yakubu added, ”So, we raised those challenges, and we have found solutions to those challenges, so be rest assured that the elections are going to be held as scheduled on February 25 for the national and on March 11 for the state election.”

The INEC chairman also said he plans to brief the Council of State on February 10. 

(NAN)