The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured that with the electoral reforms, there is no room for ballot snaching and stuffing by criminal elements during the 2023 general elections.
The Administrative Secretary of the commission in Kaduna state, Muhammed Mashi, gave the assurance on Wednesday in Kaduna, when members of a non governmental organisation- Integrity Group for Better Nigeria (IGBN) paid him a courtesy call in his office.
Mashi said Nigerians will be surprised and happy about the smooth conduct and outcome of the elections.
According to him, “With the new electoral reform Nigerians will be surprised and happy to see what will happen in 2023 election because it will be smooth, transparent, free and fair,”
He added that, “the issue of ballot stuffing and snatching will not happen, and no voter can vote twice. The election will be smooth that if Mr. A wins the election, Mr. B will not hesitate to congratulate Mr. A, and vice versa”.
He said further that the commission had commenced preparations for the elections, disclosing that already, the state office of INEC had received both sensitive and non sensitive materials.
Mashi also said the Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) for those who did fresh registration and transfer of polling units were ready for collection..
“We have started receiving both sensitive and insensitive materials for the 2023 elections. We are improving day by day.
“Those who did fresh registration and transfer of polling booths in July can go and collect their PVCs because they are ready”, he said.
Speaking earlier, Convener of IGBN, Patrick Lawson, said his group will partner with INEC to ensure transparency in the elections.
“We are a nongovernmental organisation group that is passionate about political development and progress of our dear country.
“So far INEC is doing well and it should continue to do well. And we are pleased with INEC over the issue of PVCs as only those who registered can get the PVCs.
“We are happy that in recent time INEC has done so well, especially in the conduct of governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states. We are indeed impressed”, Lawson said.
By John Shiklam in Kaduna