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Tag: BVAS

  • Nigerians votes ‘ll count in 2023 poll – NNPP chieftain

    Nigerians votes ‘ll count in 2023 poll – NNPP chieftain

    Alhaji Ahmed Tijjani, a chieftain of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) has expressed optimism that the 2023 general election will be free, fair and credible.

    Tijjani, also the NNPP Kaduna Central Senate Candidate for 2023, said this on Sunday in Kaduna.

    He said going by the successes recorded by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Anambra, Ekiti and Osun governorship election, it was obvious that the 2023 general election would be hitch-free and credible.

    Tijjani, also a philanthropist, said that although Nigeria was faced with the problem of increasing money politics, only popular and credible candidates would excel in 2023 poll.

    He said that the NNPP would win the 2023 poll at all levels going its popularity across the country.

    “Honestly, like I said before, many Nigerians are battling with daily survival trying to get even a meal per day, so whoever gives them money they will take it.

    “But am sure that with what they have experienced before, they won’t allow politicians to deceive them with money, they will collect the money and vote for credible candidates.

    “Nigerians will only vote for people who they think will do the right thing,” he said.

    He said that with the introduction of Bimodal Voter Accreditation System and the INEC Results Viewing Portal, it would be difficult for unpopular candidates to rigg the election.

    “With what INEC has been saying and with what happened in Anambra, Ekiti and Osun election and the increasing use of technology in election, I think the electoral umpire is set for a credible election in 2023.

    “Am talking today because I confidence in my creator, the Almighty Allah and I believe that with what INEC has done in those states the election will be credible.

    “I believe there will be no late arrival of election materials and with the use of Bimodal Voter Accreditation System and the INEC Results Viewing Portal once you vote it will be automatically recorded in the system.

    “It is not going to be business as usual, so it will be difficult for people to vote three four or five times, or just hire thugs to thumbprint on thousands or millions of ballot papers like before,” Tijjani said.

    He said that if INEC remained impartial in the conduct of the election, then it would be most credible.

    “And if INEC stick to its impartial stance, then the most popular candidates will win, even if they are the poorest among the contestants,” Tijjani said.

  • Use of BVAS, Result Viewing Portal has come to stay – INEC

    Use of BVAS, Result Viewing Portal has come to stay – INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)says the use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and Result Viewing (IReV) portal for accreditation and transmission of election results, has come to stay in Nigeria.

    INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu said this at the opening of a training for 82 master trainers on election technology for 2023 general election in Abuja on Tuesday.

    He said that INEC needed to build the capacity of its staff not only to competently handle the devices during the accreditation process but to also respond effectively to any glitche that may occur during election.

    “Over the last two years, the commission has increased the deployment of technology in the elections in Nigeria.
    “Systems and portals have been designed and developed to cater for different electoral activities ranging from voter registration and accreditation, result transmission from the polling units, the nomination of candidates by political parties to the accreditation of polling agents, observers and journalists for election.

    “Of these innovations, most Nigerians are more familiar with the BVAS which doubles as a device for accreditation as well as the upload of the Polling Unit level result sheets to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal in real-time on election day.

    “These innovations have increased transparency and public confidence in the electoral process. They are also part of the legal requirements for conducting elections in Nigeria,” he said.

    Yakubu said that from the experiences in the recent off-cycle election, INEC was convinced that a critical factor in the deployment of technology in election was training.

    “Our plan for the 2023 general election is to commence the training of election officials early and for a longer period of time for optimal understanding of the processes and procedures in order to serve Nigerians better.

    “A key component of this effort is election technology.

    “Today, we begin the process with the training of master trainers to serve as Registration Area Technical Support (RATECH).

    “A total of 82 officials drawn from our offices nationwide will form the nucleus of the training. Over the next three days, they will receive intensive hands-on training on the new technology,” he said.

    Yakubu added:“Thereafter, they will train more officials at zonal level to cover all the 8,809 Registration Areas (or Wards). In turn, these officials will be involved in the training ad hoc staff for the 176,846 Polling Units nationwide.’’

    He urged the 82 INEC staff involved in the training to pay special attention adding that the commission would not accept laxity on their part.

    Prof. Abdullahi Zuru, the Chairman, The Electoral Institute (TEI), said it was necessary for electoral officers to know and understand how to use the technology devices.

    Zuru said that INEC underlying philosophy was to ensure that Election officials imbibe the right knowledge, skill sets and attitude needed for the discharge of their duties and responsibilities towards the conduct of free, fair, credible, inclusive and transparent election.

    “As we are all aware, the Commission will deploy several technologies in the conduct of the 2023 General elections in compliance with Sections 47(2), 60(4) and 64(4) of the Electoral Act 2022 and the INEC Regulations and Guidelines for the conduct of election.
    “Therefore, this training is of utmost significance as it further builds your capacity as the Commission’s Master Trainers who coordinate training at strategic levels, thereby enhancing the credibility and integrity of the electoral process.
    “Particularly significant are the Electronic Voters Register (EVR), Permanent Voters Card (PVC), Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Results Viewing Portal (IReV) which are the determinants of the true winner of an election:
    “They ensure that every valid vote counts,’’ Zuru said.

  • Labour Party blows hot, kicks against plots to deactivate BVAS

    Labour Party blows hot, kicks against plots to deactivate BVAS

    The Labour Party has vowed to resist any attempt to pressure the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to the bimodal voter registration system (BVAS) for the 2023 election.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that the Labour Party described the move as criminal while urging INEC to faci­litate the timely pr­inting and distribu­tion of PVCs to enab­le Nigerians vote the candidates of their choice in the 2023 elections.

    Prior to a meeting of the expanded national working committee (NWC) of the party, which was held in Abuja on Thursday, members of the National Consultative Front (NCfr­ont), Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) captured in the party’s campaign list were delisted.

    In a communique issued following the meeting, the party acknowledge that some omissions and mispla­cement were made in the campaign cou­ncil list, which it said will be corrected and a supp­lementary list relea­sed before the inaug­uration of the counc­il.

    The communique reads: “The expanded NWC of Labour Party met to review its political activities in rece­nt time and resolved as follows: ​

    “​Labour Party thank all Nigerians for th­eir commitment and overwhelming support towards the actuali­zation of the ambiti­on of His Excellency Peter Obi Presidenc­y.

    “It is in the strength of the above that the Presidential Ca­mpaign Council has been dully announced with representation across all States, Tribes and Faith. La­bour Party hereby an­nounces the endorse­ment of the Campaign Council. However, we acknowledge some omissions and mispla­cement of some names in the Campaign Cou­ncil which will be corrected and a supp­lementary list relea­sed before the inaug­uration of the Counc­il. ​ Also corrected, is the inclusion of NCfr­ont, NLC and TUC me­mbers in the Campaign list.

    The expanded NWC rea­ffirms that the Nati­onal Chairman, Barr­ister Julius Abure is a diligent adminis­trator and the effect of his expertise is felt by every mem­bers of the Party and therefore urge him to continue with the good work of lead­ing the Party to vic­tory come 2023.

    “Labour Party is fully ready, and all par­ameters to prosecute ​ the election in 2023 has been put in pl­ace and as of moment we are consolidating the momentum that will help us establ­ish a new Nigeria co­me may 29th 2023. We also furth­er make it clear th­at Labour Party enjo­ys a roburst relatio­nship with the new Campaign Council.

    “The Party reiterates its commitment to gender, youth and so­cial inclusion in all facets of it polit­ical aspects and ope­rations.

    “NWC in session conde­mn in strong terms, the incessant attack on Labour Party me­mbers and supporters during peaceful sol­idarity marches in places like Kano Sta­te, Kaduna State, Pl­ateau State Enugu St­ate, Ebonyi State and Katsina State by either the Police, thugs of the APC and NNPP political part­ies, or some nefario­us elements of the Ebubeagu vigilante in Imo State and Ebonyi State. It is surp­rising that the perp­etrators of this sha­meful and inhuman act are yet to be arr­ested and persecuted in line with the la­ws. NWC in session therefore insists th­at the Federal Gover­nment and the law en­forcement agencies must as a matter of duty fish out these hoodlums and get them prosecuted.

    “While thanking the Independent National Commission INEC for modalities put in place so far to ensure free and fair elec­tion in the Country, we however urge the Commission to faci­litate the timely pr­inting and distribu­tion of PVCs to enab­le Nigerians vote the Candidates of their Choice.

    “It was also placed before the NWC in ses­sion that it is in the news media and other information lin­ks that attempts are being clandestinely made by the opposi­tion in collusion wi­th Federal Government to put INEC under pressure with a view to deactivate the BVAS. NWC in session viewed this crimin­al tendency with eve­ry seriousness and vowed to resist such electoral malfeasanc­e.​

    “Labour Party takes notice of the recent flooding in various places like Bayelsa, Kogi, Bauchi, Jiga­wa States to mention but few and Empath­ize with Nigerians affected by the flood. It is in this dir­ection that Labour Party is vehemently concerted to ensuring that this sad deve­lopment in our Count­ry no longer occur when His Excellency Peter Obi becomes the President of this Country in 2023.

    “Labour Party thank all the support grou­ps and encourage them to continue with the good intention for our Party”.

  • 2023: OccupyINEC group fixes date for protest against electoral fraud

    2023: OccupyINEC group fixes date for protest against electoral fraud

    A planned protest by some group of persons in the country tagged  #OccupyINEC on Twitter has been fixed for September 27, 2022.

    Some Youths have declared their interest in joining the protest against the alleged voter registration Fraud, some persons are working underground by using the courts in the country to stop the use of Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) in order to perpetrate electoral fraud.

    The sole aim of the protest is to storm the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office to demand clarity regarding the allegation and ensure the prosecution of any the electoral body’s personnel found guilty of the crime.

    .It was earlier reported that some Nigerians on Twitter had berated INEC over alleged moves to use secret court action to stop the use of BVAS machines in the 2023 general elections.

    The machine is an electronic device designed to read Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and authenticate voters.

    Recall that Nigerian opposition parties under the aegis of the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) condemned the move to prevent the use of (BVAS)

    The Coalition also claimed that it has uncovered massive voter registration fraud and a plot to sack the chairman of INEC, Mahmood Yakubu if he fails to stop the use of BVAS.

    Hence, a Twitter user, NEFERTITI said, “My People, PLEASE PAY ATTENTION!

    “On the 27th of this September, we will #OccupyINEC offices, nationwide. Time is 9 AM. Watch this space for more details. It’s not over until Nigerians WIN!!

    “#occupyinec is a Peaceful Protest by the Citizens of Nigeria against the APC appointed/dominated INEC. 2023 is now in serious jeopardy. My People, are we going to allow the compromised INEC deprive us of a bright future? Are we going to allow the APC point guns to our faces?

    “The biggest protest Africa has ever seen will soon manifest. @inecnigeria you want to ruin our lives abi? Never again! My people let’s trend #occupyinec. We must let the world know that we do not trust INEC to conduct a free and fair election in Nigeria!”

    “Let our occupation of INEC have targets that must be achieved and have ways we can enforce them if not they’ll just be calm for us to occupy and leave them to continue destroying our hopes and efforts,” another user, Chi Oma urged.

    “We cannot be guiled! I’m in full support of #occupyINEC to demand for clarity regarding the allegations in the public, total sanitisation of the system, rigid transparency and above all, prosecution of the corrupt INEC officials within the next 30 days. Enough is enough.”

    INEC has fixed February 28th, 2023 for the presidential election while the gubernatorial election will hold on the 11th day of March.

  • Days of wanton manipulation of election results are over – INEC

    Days of wanton manipulation of election results are over – INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says days of wanton manipulation of election results are over in Nigeria, as it has blocked all avenues for such.

    Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman, INEC said this at a Stakeholder Roundtable on Election Result Management and the Launch of the Election Results Analysis Dashboard (ERAD) Report on Electronic Transmission of Results organised by Yiaga Africa in Abuja on Friday.

    He said that INEC recorded a breakthrough with the new Electoral Act, 2022, which empowered it to adopt electronic means for both accreditation and results management and this made it a legal requirement for INEC to transmit results electronically.

    According to him, the most critical technological tools introduced by the commission in recent times are the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal adding that while the former was a device, the latter was a web portal.

    He said the  BVAS was used for two principal purposes; to identify and accredit voters using two biometric modes: fingerprint and facial recognition, as well as capturing and uploading the image of the Polling Unit result form (Form EC8A), to the IReV portal.

    “Indeed, using the law, administrative measures and technology, the commission has drastically tackled major problems in result management in Nigerian elections.

    “Among the top ten of such problems are falsification of scores at Polling Units, falsification of number of accredited voters, collation of false results, mutilation of results and computational errors.

    “Others are swapping of result sheets, forging result sheets, snatching and destruction of result sheets, obtaining declaration and return involuntarily, making declaration and return while result collation is still in progress and poor recordkeeping.

    “It is clear that armed with an improved electoral act, administrative procedures and requisite technology, the Commission has increased the transparency and confidence of the public in its election result management processes,” he said.

    Yakubu added:“ I can confidently say that the days of wanton manipulation of elections results are over; yet, the commission is not resting on its oars.”

    He said that starting with the Nasarawa Central State Constituency by-election election, the IReV has been deployed in 105 election, involving 16,694,461 registered voters for five governorship, six Senatorial Districts, seven Federal Constituency, 18 State Constituency, six FCT Chairmanship and 62 FCT Councillorship elections.

    He said that a total of 32,985 results were successfully uploaded, giving an upload success rate of 99.13 per cent.

    “What this successful transmission of results demonstrates is that the concern about the capacity of the Commission to transmit results from all over the country may well be unfounded.’’

    He said that a total of 128,994 accounts have been opened by IReV users since it was launched two years ago August 2020.

    He said another technical concern for INEC was the repeated attempts to break through its cyber security system for the portal but it has always failed.

    Executive Director, Yiaga Africa, Samson Itodo, while presenting the ERAD Findings on Electronic Transmission of Election Results in the 2022 Ekiti and Osun Governorship Election, said there were four key roles for ERAD.

    According to Itodo, the Election Results Analysis Dashboard (ERAD) promotes transparency of election results management and support INEC by providing the public with access to election results from the polling unit in relative real-time.

    He added that it provided an independent audit and integrity test of INEC’s election results management system by tracking results from the polling units based on commission’s own published results among others.

    He said that Yiaga Africa while monitoring elections observed some things and recommended some pathways for improving the transparency of election result management .

    “INEC should invest in the training of polling unit officials, with a special focus on result transmission, ballot paper accounting as well as the capturing of polling unit results using the BVAS. It will address the capacity deficits resulting to upload of incorrect or incomplete forms and blurry images.

    “In addition to the transmission of polling unit level results, INEC should electronically transmit and publish the number of accredited voters on the IReV. This is in accordance with the Section 64(4) (5)(6) of the Electoral Act 2022.

    “INEC should deepen the transparency of the collation process, the Form EC8B, Ward collation result sheet should be uploaded on the IReV portal at the close of collation at the ward level. It will facilitate monitoring and tracking of the results collation process.

    “INEC should increase the Amazon Web Services (AWS) resources for storing the form EC8A or polling unit results in the AWS server. Increasing the bandwidth, RAM size and storage capacity of the server to improve the processing power of the IReV portal and ensure public access to results uploaded on the portal,” he said.

    Itodo urged the commission to discontinue new registrations or user account creation on the IReV portal 12 hours to election day, saying this will reduce the stress level on the IREV server on election day.

    He said the commission should review the features of the BVAS to improve picture quality and consider converting election results from PDF to jpeg and create options for varying quality for downloads similar to YouTube downloading options for easy downloads.

    He added that INEC should introduce a form like the Form E40G for reporting the cancellation of results at the polling unit, to avoid upload of documents not relevant to the IReV or handwritten letters.

  • INEC to deploy 200,000 BVAS in 2023 general elections

    INEC to deploy 200,000 BVAS in 2023 general elections

    INEC National Commissioner in charge of Abia, Anambra and Benue, Mr Festus Okoye, has said that the commission will deploy over 200,000 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) in the 2023 general elections.

    Okoye, who was in Abia to monitor the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR), said this during an interactive session with newsmen in Umuahia on Friday.

    He said that the BVAS would be deployed in the 176,000 polling units across the country. He said that the surplus would be kept handy as reserve.

    “We will have one BVAS reserve in every Registration Area Centre (RAC) to ensure immediate intervention in case of any failure,” he said.

    He further said that Technical Officers would be on standby at every RAC to attend to any technical issues that could arise in the course of the polls.

    Okoye, who is the National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, said that the commission had the capacity to conduct seamless general elections in 2023.

    According to him, the commission is poised to replicate the achievements and successes recorded in the Ekiti and Osun Gubernatorial Elections.

    He attributed the commission’s feat in the two elections to the deployment of technology.

    He said that the deployment of technology and outcomes of the elections “have given Nigerians fresh hopes”.

    He said that 2023 offered the commission an opportunity to improve on its record.

    “The Chairman of the commission, Prof. Mahmud Yakubu, has assured Nigerians that this commission is determined to conduct good elections to make sure that votes count.

    “The commission will deploy technology to obviate human interferences to undermine its efforts,” Okoye said.

    He expressed delight over the large turnout of young Nigerians for the CVR. He said that of the 11 million Nigerians that had completed their registration, about 7.8 million were between 18 years and 34 years.

    “The interest shown by the young Nigerians meant that the future of the country is bright. The youths have shown that the PVC has power and they are ready to use it to make a change.

    “The PVC has power and value. It is not enough to obtain your PVC. You must come out and vote on the day of the election,” he said.

    Okoye further said that as at July 25, INEC’s record showed that about 28.5 million prospective voters registered online.

    He said the figure included fresh registrants and those for transfers, destroyed, defaced and lost voter cards.

    He also said that the commission had integrated Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in the electoral process.

    The INEC chieftain said that 34 Presiding Officers and Assistant Presiding Officers in the Osun election were PWDs.

    He said that the commission would provide special equipment, including magnifying glasses, brailes and other aids for PWDs during the 2023 polls.

    He also said that expectant and nursing mothers would be given preferential treatment during the polls.

    Okoye said that the commission had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the leadership of the National Union of Road Transport Workers as part of the efforts to ensure speedy distribution of electoral materials on the election day.

    He said that Electoral Officers at the local government areas would also arrange with the local transport workers for the movement of materials.

    He also said that the commission was discussing with the Police for the timely deployment of personnel to escort materials to polling units.

    Okoye further said that the commission had begun intensive discussion with all the security agencies on ways to provide adequate security on the election day “so that the electorate would be confident to go out to vote”.

    He said that the July 31 deadline for the CVR remained sacrosanct. He said that the commission had enormous task to accomplish ahead of the election proper,  hence could not afford another extension.

    He said that the CVR had lasted for over a year and that INEC would not glorify “the last minute rush attitutde” of some Nigerians.

    Addressing a crowd of prospective registrants at the INEC office, he advised them not to engage in double registration.

    “This exercise is exclusively for those who have not registered before and those that have just attained age 18,” he said.

    He warned that double and multiple registrations were criminal offences and amounted to exercise in futility.

    “At the end of the CVR, the commission will carry out a de-duplication to remove double and multiple registrations,” Okoye said.

    He also spoke on the efforts by the commission to check “voter suppression” through vote buying by desperate politicians and their agents.

    He said that the commission was collaborating with DSS and EFCC to effectively checkmate the ugly phenomenon.

    He said that the commission had yet to get concrete evidence regarding the allegations of under-aged registration in some parts of the country.

    He challenged communities to help arrest the illegal act, saying it could only take place with the complicity of the people.

    Okoye said that PVCs had no expiry date and that it was not true that those obtained in 2011 needed to be invalidated.

    He also said that investigation was still ongoing to uncover the facts surrounding the millions of PVCs reportedly found in one of the states in the country.

    He said that a preliminary investigation by the commission with some samples of the PVCs did not give any clues as to the owners and state they originated from.

  • Ekiti State voters to elect Governor today

    Ekiti State voters to elect Governor today

    The 988,923 registered voters in Ekiti State across 16 local government areas are going to the poll to elect the governor and the deputy governor of the state today.

    The election will hold in 2,445 Polling Units (PUs) in 177 Registration Areas, in three Senatorial Districts , six Federal Constituencies and 26 State Constituencies across the states.

    A Total number of 16 candidates and parties are contesting the governorship election.

    As at of June 13, a total of 749,065 Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) had been collected by registered voters in the State.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says voting shall be by continuous accreditation and voting system.

    The accreditation process shall comprise authentication and verification of voters, using the 3,346 Bimodal Accreditation System (BVAS) deployed by INEC.

    The accreditation and voting are expected to commence at 8:30 a.m. and close at 2:30 p.m. provided that any voter already in the queue shall be allowed to vote.

    After an election and completion of results management procedure at the polling unit, the Presiding Officers is expected to transmit a clear image of the result sheet (form EC8A) for purpose of collation.

    The result will thereafter be transmitted to INEC Result Viewing portal (IREV).

    It would also be delivered by hand the hard copy of the form EC8A and the BVAS to the Registration Area (RA) collation officer to ensure that the number of accredited voters contained in the machine is same thing in the form EC8A .

    The candidates are Abiodun Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Olabisi Kolapo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Olusegun Oni of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

    Others are Reuben Famuyibo of Accord (A), Ajagunigbale Olajide of African Action Congress (AAC), Oluwole Oluyede of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Elebute-Halle Kemi of Action Democratic Party (ADP) and Benjamin Obidoyin of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

    Also contesting are Fagbemi Adegbenro of Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Christiana Olatawura of All People’s Party (APP), Daramola Olugbenga Onile of Labour Party (LP), Fatomilola Oladosu of New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and Iyaniwura Ifedayo of the National Rescue Movement (NRM).

    Also in the race are Agboola Ben of the Peoples Redemption Party, Adebowale Oluranti Ajayi of Young Progressives Party (YPP) and Adeolu Akinyemi of Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).

    INEC had assured Nigerians that people of Ekiti would determine their next governor, while security agencies also pledged to secure peaceful environment for the poll.

  • INEC to deploy new technology for Plateau by-election

    INEC to deploy new technology for Plateau by-election

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that it had deployed the INEC Voter Enrolment Device (IVED) for the Jos North/Bassa Federal Constituency and Pankshin South state Constituency by-election slated for February 26.

    Plateau INEC Head of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and Registry Mr Tol Wakili said at a stakeholders meeting on Friday in Jos, that the machine uses a software known as Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).

    Wakili said that the machine was a massive improvement from the card reader machine that was deployed in previous elections.

    The HOD said that unlike the card reader, the BVAS would identify finger prints and faces of registered voters.

    “Wakili said that machine was used for the dual purpose of identification and authentication.

    “In case the finger print fails, the machine would capture the face of the voter.

    “Both of them cannot fail at the same time, if that happens it means the person with the Permanent Voters Card is not the owner,” he said.

    According to him, the card reader had loopholes that desperate politicians explored and used to undermine INEC’s efforts at credible and transparent elections.

    INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Plateau, Mallam Halilu Payi, said that the stakeholders meeting was part of the activities to have a fair, credible and transparent by-election in Jos North/Bassa and Pankshin.

    Payi stated that the stakeholders meeting was one of the critical platforms that INEC used to carry all stakeholders along.

    Election activities hold around political parties and they need to be aware of their roles, adding that if they failed to understand their roles, the election may not be successful.

    “We are here to brief the stakeholders, including security agencies, on the things we need to do before that actual day of election.”

    He further said that a total of 652,581 registered voters were expected to participate in the elections, made up of Bassa Local Government with 145,904 registered voters, Jos North, 453, 556, while Pankshin South had 53, 121.

    He stated that the ongoing continuous voter registration was preparatory to the 2023 election and not for the by-election.

    He said that those who just registered and were yet to get the PVC would participate in the by-election.

    The state Commissioner of Police, Bathlomew Onyeka, assured the stakeholders that the security agencies were fully prepared for the by-election.

    Onyeka, who was represented by ACP Yusuf Ishak, advised the stakeholders to step down the information concerning the elections.

    He warned that security agencies would not condone lawlessness during the elections.

    Taditional, religious and civil society organisations, as well as other stakeholders attended the meeting.

  • ABUJA: INEC receives materials for Saturday’s election

    ABUJA: INEC receives materials for Saturday’s election

    The six area councils of the Federal Capital territory, Abuja, have received electoral materials for Saturday’s Chairmen and Councillors elections. They were sent to offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, which promptly distributed them to all six Area Councils.

    This is even as it was noticed that electorates in the six Area Councils have also been fully mobilised for the elections which will see new chairmen and councillors in the six area councils of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

    Among sensitive materials received at the FCT Area Council was a Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).

    An Electoral Officer for Gwagwalada Area Council, who pleaded anonymity, confirmed receipt of a sufficient number of BVAS and backup ahead of tomorrow’s Area Council Elections.

    The BVAS is a system that will combine fingerprint and face biometrics for the identity verification of voters

    As explained by the Electoral Officer, the BVAS integrates the three-stage voting process.

    INEC had cleared 478 candidates to contest in the election in the 68 constituencies of the FCT.

    The candidates, nominated by 14 political parties, including Nigeria’s ruling APC and the main opposition, PDP, will tomorrow fight for the control of the six area councils in Abuja.

    110 of the 478 candidates will contest the chairmanship and vice-chairmanship seats in Bwari, Abaji Gwagwalada, Kuje, Kwali and Abuja Municipal Council (AMAC) while 363 candidates will also jostle for 62 councillorship positions in the FCT.

    Only six chairmen and 62 councillors are expected to emerge at the end of the electoral process.

  • Elections: BVAS has come to stay – INEC

    Elections: BVAS has come to stay – INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Friday said that the use of Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) for accreditation during elections has come to stay.

    INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Mr Festus Okoye, said this at the one-day Implementation meeting for the FCT Area Council Election on Friday in Abuja.

    Okoye said that INEC would continue to come up with innovations to check electoral malpractices and strengthen democratic governance in the country.

    Okoye said that BVAS would be used for FCT area council elections, as it had assisted the commission to conduct credible and well accepted election in the Anambra governorship election.

    He said those used to electoral corruption, cutting corners in the electoral process, snatching ballot boxes and ballot papers would never easily accept any change that would deny them.

    “That is what the whole issue about the BVAS is. So, let me say it very clearly that the BVAS as a form and mode of accreditation has come to stay, and the Commission can only keep improving on it, but jettisoning it will not be possible,” he said.

    Okoye called on stakeholders to support the commission to conduct a hitch-free FCT Area Council poll, scheduled for Feb. 12, 2022.

    The INEC official stressed that the commission would provide necessary information that would guide stakeholders, especially the National Orientation Agency and the National Youth Service Corps for effective communication with the electorate during the poll.

    In his remarks, the FCT INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr Yahaya Bello, said adequate measures are being adopted to educate political parties and FCT residents on the locations of about 3,000 polling units, including newly-created ones in the six area councils in the territory.

    Bello said regular meetings are also being organised with security agencies, the traditional institution and political parties to ensure the safety of INEC staff and electoral materials during the election.

    The Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Mr Rotimi Oyekanmi, commended INEC Staff for their commitment towards deepening democracy in the country.

    Oyekanmi appealed to INEC staff and other stakeholders to keep abreast with innovations being introduced by the commission and work as a team to conduct an inclusive election in the FCT.