As the 2023 general elections draw closer by the day, the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria on Friday asked the government to improve security so the elections can hold in a safe environment.

This was as the Independent National Electoral Commission dissociated itself from a fake Continuous Voter Registration online portal, saying it had not accredited any agency or organisation to capture details of voters on its behalf.

Due to insecurity ravaging most parts of the country, the Presbyterian Church said if care was not taken, the 2023 elections might not hold.

The church also declared a 30-day prayer session beginning from Sunday, August 15, for the release of victims held by bandits, kidnappers and insurgents nationwide.

The Prelate and Moderator of PCoN (General Assembly), His Eminence Nzie Eke, raised the issues during a press conference to mark the Synod of the North Edition of the 175th anniversary of the church held at the First Abuja Parish.

He said, “As a church that has existed long before Nigeria existed as a nation and which played a lot of significant positive roles for the emergence of the nation and still playing, we are deeply concerned about the state of the nation with particular reference to insecurity, hunger, 2023 elections, electronic transmission of election results, Nigeria’s unity and our youths.

“On insecurity, the fact that we can no longer sleep with our two eyes closed in most parts of Nigeria is no more news. The level of banditry, kidnapping, herdsmen crisis, robbery, cult crises, and the like has been driving Nigeria steadily into a failed state.

“While we appreciate the sacrifices our security agencies are making to keep us safe and some recent gains they have made in the battle to keep Nigeria safe, we want to encourage the government to get more aggressive in the fight.

Otherwise, the 2023 elections will be a mirage. Our prayers continue to go to all those who are being held captive by bandits and kidnappers.”

Eke also decried the combined impact of the security crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic, and weak naira on the people, saying hunger and starvation were staring Nigerians in the face.

READ ALSO All over the country, the problem is leaders -Gov Umahi

The cleric canvassed the adoption of the electronic transmission of election results in 2023, saying it would mitigate electoral malpractices. He urged the National Assembly to change its earlier decision on the matter.

Eke also urged the Federal Government to seek dialogue with all agitators in the country and restructure the country to maximise its potential.

Meanwhile, INEC on Friday dissociated itself from a fake CVR online portal, saying no agency had been contracted to capture details of voters on its behalf.

INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, made the clarification in a statement titled, ‘Fake CVR Online Portal.’

He said, “The attention of the commission has been drawn to a post that is currently being circulated on social media about a website for INEC voter registration, which is different from the INEC CVR portal.

“The address of the fake portal is https://register.inec-pvc.online/ with shortened URL as https://bit.ly/INEC-PvcReg2021.

“INEC wishes to totally disassociate itself from this website and any activity carried out on it. The commission states that it has not accredited any agency or organisation to capture details of intending voters on its behalf.
“The general public is hereby informed that the INEC CVR online portal remains https://cvr.inecnigeria.org.”