The Independent National Electoral Commission INEC warned that the 2023 general elections may be in jeopardy, unless concerted efforts are made to halt the worsening insecurity.
INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, who spoke in Abuja, maintained that the challenges are real.
According to the electoral agency, the mounting security challenges and electoral impunity cannot guarantee a conducive atmosphere for the electoral process.
INEC said the fear of deployment to conflict areas by adhoc staff is worrisome, adding that many of the over one million non-permanent workers, who participated in the 2019 polls, showed apprehension.
However, the agency assured that it would find ways of navigating through the challenges.
He said the country must break the circle of impunity, violence and identity theft to have peaceful polls. Okoye, who recalled that 73 political parties participated in the 2019 elections, said new parties may be registered while some existing ones may be deregistered
