From Fred Itua, Abuja and Tony John, Port Harcourt

Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, yesterday, revealed that the electoral umpire would spend N355 billion in the 2023 general elections.

Already, N305 billion has been approved by the lawmakers.

However, the electoral body said it has budgeted another N50 billion for its annual budget in 2023, an increment of N10 billion compared to 2022 budget which was N40 billion as approved by the National Assembly.

Yakubu spoke when he appeared the Senate Committee on INEC.

In the 2023 budgeted submitted to the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters for consideration, N2.6 billion was earmarked for off-season election in Kogi, Imo and Bayelsa governorship elections billed for November 11, 2023.

According to INEC boss, the N2.6 billion would cater for provision for election, referenda and recalls expenses such as operation cost covering printing of ballot papers, result sheets, printing of forms and envelopes, materials and supplies, logistics expenses, honorarium for officials, supervision, RAC preparation, security /intervention support etc

“Election ICT system support, printing of voters register for off season and bye elections , F$A Election fund management logistic,” he said.

In the 2023 nugget of the Commission, N50 million will be spent on purchase of fire fighting equipment, motor vehicles – N150 million, N250 million to repeat offices and residential building.

Meanwhile, Low voter education and awareness may mar the much-hyped 2023 elections, Whilltrust Foundation has  revealed

The foundation, a non-governmental organization (NGO) with headquarters in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, for the South-South, said its studies showed that much voter education is still highly needed, especially in the rural areas.

Unveiling the findings, the Executive Director, Aaron Anyanwu, said most rural people hardly knew the value of their permanent voters card (PVCs).

“They only hold tight to it as identity cards or to show government people that they have it.”

He warned that if massive voter education is no carried out, apathy might still mar the elections, and that result would still be same.

He explained that voter education is about showing the people the need to vote and how to vote.

“Until the awareness is translated into voting awareness, the exercise is still nothing. They must know how to vote and vote right. The mentoring is continues.”

The executive director feared that minority of the 210 million Nigerians might still be the ones to elect the next government in 2023 despite the almost 95 million registered voters.

He gave example of Anambra State where 2.5 million voters registered, but only 250,000 or 10 per cent voted, saying that Charles Soludo won with a mere 112,000 votes in a state with 2.5 million voters.

According to him, the solution is to carry massive voter education and keep helping the rural voters to participate, in registering, in collecting permanent voter cards (PVCs), and in going out to vote.

•Publish all unclaimed PVCs – Ojikutu

Nigeria’s first elected female deputy governor, Alhaja Sinatu Aderoju Ojikutu, has urged  INEC to publish all unclaimed PVCs.

She also lauded President Muhammadu Buhari on currency redesigning, adding that the secrecy that accompanied it if properly monitored is a positive game changer for the economy uplifting and security improvement.

Ojikutu in a statement issued in Lagos by her media office stated that the publication should be on local government by local government basis.

On the 2023 general election, she said that would further ensure free, fair and credible election across the country.

According to her, the upcoming election should be issue based and devoid of mudslinging that would distract the electorate to make an informed decision.

“The choices we make will either strengthen if we choose the right candidate or worsen the economic situation of the country if a wrong and incompetent candidate is elected,” Ojikutu warned.