By Harry Awurumibe, Editor, Abuja Bureau
Determined to conduct a hitch-free off-cycle elections in Bayelsa, Kogi and Imo states, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), said it has accredited 145 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) that will deploy 7,896 Observers for the November 11 Governorship Elections in the three states.
INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu who revealed this on Wednesday in Abuja during a meeting with the CSOs, said accredited organisations would soon be invited to collect the identity cards for their Observers.
Yakubu also said the mock accreditation conducted by the Commission at designated Polling Units (PU) in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi States two weeks ago was used to test the efficacy of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) for both biometric authentication of voters and the upload of results to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV).
Said he: “‘We have received no adverse report so far. By this, we are encouraged that the test was successful, and we look forward to improved performance of the BVAS in voter accreditation and result upload in the forthcoming Governorship elections and beyond.”
The INEC boss said that the Commission was collaborating with Security Agencies to ensure adequate protection of everyone involved in the electoral process.
Yakubu reminded all Accredited Observers to adhere strictly to the code of conduct of election observation.
In a remark, the representative of Justice and Equity Organisations, Mr Tunde Bafunsho urged the electorates in Imo, Kogi and Bayelsa States to come out enmasse and cast their votes while calling on INEC to ensure adequate security on election day. READ ALSO:
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He appealed to the electorate in the three states to come out enmasse on election day to perform their civic responsibilities .
However, he called for adequate security personnel that will protect the CSOs, electorate, INEC adhoc staff, security agencies and others.
Tunde Bafunsho expressed the hope that the Commission would send committed and disciplined staff to work on election day.
