2023 polls: INEC holds mock accreditation February 4

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it would conduct a mock accreditation of registered voters across the 436 polling units in the country on Saturday, February 4, 2023.

The INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed this at a meeting with the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) in Abuja on Friday.

Yakubu stated that 12 polling units have been designated in each state of the federation and four in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, on the equality of the country’s 109 senatorial districts for the exercise.

The INEC boss said: “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,” he stated.

The Star

Segun Ojo