The Independent National Electoral Commission INEC has named the International Conference Centre ICC, Abuja as the Collation Centre for the upcoming presidential election.
This was one of the decisions made at the Commission’s regular weekly meeting on Thursday in Abuja, where they discussed several issues, including the location of the National Situation Room and Collation Centre for the 2023 General Election.
“As general elections approach, the Commission establishes a National Situation Room and Collation Centre where the results of Presidential elections are collated. The International Conference Centre (ICC) in Abuja will once again serve as the venue for this important exercise,” said Barr. Festus Okoye, INEC National Commissioner in charge of the Information and Voter Education Committee.
As a result, the Commission has established two committees, the first of which is the Collation Secretariat, which will collate Presidential results from the states.
“This will be headed by the Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, in exercising his constitutional responsibilities as the Chief Electoral Commissioner of the Federation and Returning Officer for the Presidential election. A few technical staff will also assist him, according to Okoye.
The second is the Situation Room and Collation Centre Committee, which is in charge of venue preparation, seating arrangements, utilities and services, security, as well as the accreditation of party agents, national and international observers, media, and so on.
Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu, National Commissioner, chairs the Committee. National Commissioners such as Prof. Abdullahi Abdu Zuru and Barr. Festus Okoye are among the members. Others include the Directors of Electoral Operations, ICT, Planning and Monitoring, Security, Election and Party Monitoring, and International Cooperation and Protocol.
Others include the Director of Research, the Director of Health Services, the Director of Estate, Works, and Transport, the Chairman’s Chief Technical Adviser, the Chairman’s Special Adviser, the Chairman’s Chief Press Secretary, and the Director of the Commission Secretariat, who would serve as Secretary.
“The Situation Room and Collation Centre Committee was inaugurated by the Commission’s Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, who charged it to begin work in earnest and diligently discharge its responsibilities,” Okoye added.
