As part of preparations for the 2023 general elections, INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu held an interactive session with national commissioners of the commission in Abuja on Friday.

The INEC boss in his opening remarks said the commission witnessed a noticeable increase in the number of voter registration since the resumption of the Continous Voter Registration (CVR) for the fourth and final quarter on the 11th of April, 2022.

Mahmood said a total of 405,585 eligible Nigerians completed their voter registration in the last one week constituting a 31% increase from the average figure of 125,000 weekly registration since the exercise commenced in June 2021.

The INEC chairman said the commission expects a surge in new registrations ahead of the deadline of 30th June 2022.

Mahmood expressed concern for the safety of INEC’s staff, equipment, materials and new registrants following the recent attack on a registration centre in Imo State and recent security challenges in Anambra and Kaduna.

The INEC chairman said despite the security challenges, the commission is committed to ensuring the smooth conduct of the 2023 general elections as scheduled.

While promising increased engagements, the INEC Boss expressed confidence that the nation’s security agencies have the capacity to deal with current security challenges before the elections.

The INEC chairman charged national commissioners to be conversant with the new electoral act as the 2023 elections will be based on the new law.