The Federal Government’s assurance that the 2023 elections will not suffer from any postponement or cancellation is not enough.
Guests on the TVC News programme, Journalists Hangout, said the Statement which came from the Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, is not enough to give the needed assurance that the Elections will hold.
Emeka Madunagu who took the lead in the discussion said the Statement will carry more weight if the National Security adviser, Major General Babagana Monguno (rtd), the Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Magashi (rtd) or the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, were the ones who made the statement.
Mr Madunagu said the Government has to do much more than just giving assurances to Nigerians through the minister of Information.
He added that the Information Minister is neither a Military General nor the man in charge of Defence or Security for Nigeria.
He expressed displeasure that the Information Minister was trying to downplay what was said on behalf of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission by describing the Statement as from an official of INEC.
He described the retraction by the Chairman of the Election Management body as not being enough to assuage the fears of Nigerians.
According to him, the alleged underhand dealings involving the officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, which may end up disenfranchising Nigerians is a far greater danger to the elections which must be addressed before time runs out.
For her part, Olabisi Deji-Folutile, said the nation has always faced Security challenges but have never in the past hindered the conduct of elections.
She however said the only difference between the past challenges faced by the Country then and Now is the rate at which attacks are being launched on the facilities of the Independent National Electoral Commission.
She described the number of attacks as being very huge and need to be taken into account in any discussion about the Conduct of the Elections.
She said the Statement initially credited to the INEC Official must have been made with the attacks on its facilities in mind.
