From Harry Awurumibe in Awka, Anambra
For the umpteenth time, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured the people of Anambra state that it has put every machinery in motion to deliver a free, fair and credible Governorship Election on November 6, 2021 just as it has promised that the new technology to be used in the conduct of the election will not be compromised by anybody.
This much was disclosed by INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmoud Yakubu in Awka, capital of Anambra state on Wednesday during the Election Stakeholders Meeting with traditional and religious leaders, candidates of the political parties and leaders of Civil Society Organisations (CSO) which also attended by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and Archbishop of Sokoto Diocese and Secretary of Election Peace Accord, Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah.
Professor Yakubu told the large gathering inside Professor Dora Akunyili Women’s Development Center Auditorium in Awka that the Commission has executed 12 out of 14 political activities lined up for the Anambra governorship election, adding that the remaining two activities; conclusion of campaign on Thursday and the election proper on Saturday, November 6.
“I call on the leaders of political parties and candidates to continue to appeal to your supporters to eschew hate speech or disruptive behaviour before, during and after the election.
“Not doing so will only further compound the current situation and scare voters away from exercising their rights as citizens.
“Working with the security agencies, we have put so much in place for the successful conduct of this election. Let us by our words and action support the peaceful and credible conclusion of the 2021 Anambra State Governorship Election,” the INEC boss said.
Professor Yakubu also gave more details of the preparations for the election, pointing out that materials for the Anambra election unlike elections before it have certain unique features.
Said he: “I want to assure all voters in Anambra State that in designing the sensitive materials for the election, the Commission has introduced additional visible and invisible security features, including different colour codes. Materials have also been customized by Local Government Areas and Polling Units.
“Let me therefore warn those who may attempt to compromise the process that we have put in place sufficient safeguards to detect counterfeits.
“We are also determined to prosecute perpetrators of electoral malpractice, including any election duty staff found to be complicit.
“The choice of the next Governor of Anambra State is in the hands of the eligible voters and their will must prevail.
“On Saturday 6th November 2021, Anambra State will make history as the first Governorship election in Nigeria in which the Commission will deploy the Biometric Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) device.
“This new device replaces the Smart Card Reader (SCR) used in previous elections since 2015. We are satisfied with the pilot deployment of the BVAS in the Isoko South I State Constituency Bye-election in Delta State on 11th September 2021.
“The BVAS has the dual capacity for fingerprint and facial authentication of voters. This is to guard against voting by identity theft where one person uses another person’s Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) to vote using the incident form.
“With this development, the use of the incident form is abolished. No voter without a genuine PVC will vote. No voter who has not been successfully accredited electronically using the BVAS will vote”.
He revealed that at the same time, the BVAS is also equipped with a camera; therefore, it has the capacity to snap Polling Unit level result and upload same to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal so that citizens can view results as election is concluded in each Polling Unit. Therefore, there is no need for the Z-Pad since its functions have been embedded in the BVAS.
“I am glad to report that all the BVAS required for the election on Saturday have been configured and delivered to Anambra State. Election duty staff have also been trained on the use of the device and we have sufficient technical staff to respond to any glitches that may occur”, he stated.
