***May extend collection of PVCs
By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
Determined to deliver a free, fair, credible and inclusive elections in 2023, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed Saturday, February 4 for mock accreditation to test the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) before the February 24 Presidential and National Assembly elections.
This is even as the Commission has said it will not hesitate to listen to the outcry of Nigerians who are yet to get their Permanent Voters Cards (PVC) as a responsive organisation that has the interest of the citizens at heart.
INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu made this known in his remarks at a crucial meeting with the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) from the 36 states and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) held at the Commission’s Headquarters at Maitama, Abuja on Friday.
According to Yakubu mock accreditation exercise will take place in the 436 Polling Units (PU) nationwide, adding that 12 units have been designated in each state of the federation with FCT allocated four just as he explained that it is on the equity of the country’s 109 Senatorial Districts.
The INEC boss also said that the comprehensive list of the Polling Units including the names and PU Code numbers as well as the distribution by State, Local Government and Registration Areas (wards) will be uploaded to the Commission’s website.
Yakubu therefore appealed to registered voters in the affected Polling Units to appear on the date with their PVCs for the mock accreditation exercise, adding that with four weeks to the Presidential election, the Commission was putting final touches in its preparations that distribution of materials nationwide is almost concluded.
He hinted that INEC may consider additional measures to ensure that no eligible voters is disenfranchised, pointing out that with the elections almost at hand there is need for him to brainstorm with all the RECs to put finishing touches to the preparations for the 2023 General Election.
“As you are aware, we have exactly four weeks to the opening of polls on Saturday 25th February 2023 for the Presidential and National Assembly elections to be followed two weeks later by the Governorship and State Assembly elections on Saturday 11th March 2023.
“I am glad to report that movement of materials for the election to various locations nationwide is being concluded. Training of officials will commence shortly. Ongoing consultations with stakeholders will be intensified. Airlifting and delivery of sensitive materials to States of the Federation has gone far. Accreditation of national and international observers and the media is being finalised.
“Critical service providers in the area of transportation have reassured us of their commitment to efficient logistics for the movement of materials and personnel to various locations while the security agencies have reaffirmed their readiness for the elections.
“As you are already aware, the Commission has taken delivery of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines for the election. We have also dutifully tested each machine in our offices nationwide to ensure its functionality. The next step is to conduct field tests across the country involving actual voters. For this reason, and in readiness for nationwide deployment, the Commission is conducting a mock accreditation of voters similar to what was done ahead of the recent Ekiti and Osun State Governorship elections.
“The mock accreditation will hold on Saturday 4th February 2023 in 436 polling units nationwide. Twelve polling units have been designated in each State of the Federation and four in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on the equality of the country’s 109 Senatorial Districts for the exercise. A comprehensive list of the polling units, including their names and PU Code numbers, as well as their distribution by State, Senatorial District, Local Government and Registration Area (Ward) will be uploaded to the Commission’s website shortly.
“The Commission appeals to registered voters in the affected polling units to appear on the scheduled date with their PVCs for the mock exercise. Doing so will help to reassure the public of the robustness of our system and to strengthen our processes ahead of the General Election. Civil society organisations, the media and the general public are welcome to observe the process. At the end of the exercise, the 436 BVAS machines involved will be reconfigured before they are deployed for the General Election”, Yakubu stated.
