Participants and Guest on the TVC News Programme Journalists Hangout have backed the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to prepare for a Run-Off Presidential Election in March 2023.
The Plan by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, which was revealed by its National Commissioner in charge of Voter Education and Public Enlightenment, Mr Festus Okoye, in a meeting he had with Editors and Bureau Chiefs of Media organisations in Abuja according to him was not unusual.
He added that since the Election Management Body only has 3 Weeks between the slated date for the Presidential election and the Run off by law, it will be unwise not to prepare,
He disclosed that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, will be printing an extra 93.5 Million Ballot papers the number of registered voters in the Country.
Mr Okoye added that the practice of printing extra Ballot papers for a proposed Run-off has been on since 1999 and will continue so that the commission is not caught off guard.
While reacting to the decision, Dotun Oladipo, Publisher of The Eagle Online, said its a good development that the Independent National Electoral Commission has announced its intention to print extra ballot papers for a re-run election so Nigerians can know and will not give room for unnecessary speculations.
He however added that from his point of view as an observer and somebody who is aware of the strength of the major parties, it will be a straight fight between two parties and is not expecting there to be a Presidential Run-Off Election in 2023.
For his part, Paul Dada, who is the Managing Editor of TheseTimes said he is also not expecting any Presidential Run-Off Election in 2023 but backed the decision by the Independent National Electoral Commission to prepare for any eventuality.
He disclosed that the decision though is not new as the Election Management Body has always done so in each election cycle.
They also talked about the level of insecurity and how it may affect the 2023 election.
They urged INEC to do more of taking action through the use of actionable intelligence to move in on areas where Security threats develop and address them according through its security committee with the nations’ security establishment.
