The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC says it is making plans and preparations for the conduct of a runoff
presidential election if no candidate meets the Constitutional requirements to emerge winner of the polls on the 25th of
February 2023.
At a meeting with Bureau Chiefs and editors of media organisations in Abuja, INEC national commissioner in charge of information
and voter education, Festus Okoye said such plan is the tradition of INEC for all elections conducted since the return of democracy in 1999.
He said INEC is already planning to print double of the total number of ballots papers required for the first ballot since the
commission has just 21 days to the conduct of the Run off election.
Publisher, Eagle Online, Dotun Oladipo said “I am glad INEC has stated that it is a tradition, because it appears that there will be a clear-cut winner on the first ballot.
“For those of us who are watching from the outside and have been somewhat privileged to cover a number of these elections in the past, there will definitely be a clear winner.
“Looking at the structure, the way campaigns are going, and the way people are swinging, it appears like it will be a straight struggle between two parties, for a variety of reasons.
The way it is now, INEC shouldn’t have anything to fear.
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Speaking further, Managing Editor, TheSetimes, Paul Dada stated that INEC’s preparation for a re-run of election is nothing new as it has always been prepared.
“INEC foresees a rerun every time there is an election. It is better for INEC to always prepare not to be caught napping.
“I personally don’t think there will be a re-run because whoever is going to win will do so by a landslide but it is okay for INEC to prepare in case anything happens.
Speaking on electoral threats in Katsina state, Mr Dada said that he was not surprised we are having an issue like this as we have been having security problems before now and most especially now that election is very close.
According to him, When it comes to times of elections, peoples tempers are high, violence often characterize our election.
“It is also sad that elections are taking place at the time that Nigeria is bedeviled by a high level of insecurity, we should be concerned.
“It is not enough for INEC to analyze the difficulties that we are all aware of; we have already seen INEC offices attacked.
“It is not enough for INEC to inform us that these are the problems; we must seek answers and put safeguards in place to avoid such violence from occurring.
“Everyone should be concerned because of the situation in the country.
“We should not rest on our oars and think that because there has always been fears and we are able to hold elections and say the threats are no less serious than what it used to be.
“Things have progressively gone worse as we have experienced attacks in areas where there had been calm in previous times.” Paul Dada added.
