The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC will this Saturday, conduct a mock accreditation exercise in selected wards across the country, to ascertain the efficiency of the BVAS machines before February 25th, when the 2023 General Election will commence.
INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, in Kwara State, Mallam Garba Attahiru Madami who announced this at a stakeholders meeting in Ilorin, said that six Local Government Areas in three senatorial districts of Kwara has been selected for the exercise.
The selected Local Government Areas are Asa, Ilorin-West, Irepodun, Ekiti, Moro and Patigi.
The INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, emphasized that the mock accreditation exercise is merely to ascertain the condition of the BVAS machines and not for voting as ballot papers will not be made available.
Mallam Attahiru Madami who said that security agencies, the media, election observers and other stakeholders will be on ground to monitor the process, urged political parties to also mobilize their agents to be present.
On the Permanent Voter Cards, the Resident Electoral Commissioner stated that collection has improved considerably as 85% of the cards in Kwara State, has being collected, so far.
Mallam Madami stressed that no one, on election days, under any circumstances will be allowed to vote without a PVCs and warned anyone without the card to stay away from polling units to avoid being arrested.
In a remark,the Commissioner of Police, Kwara State, Mr Paul Odama commended political parties in the State for the decorum so far recorded and enjoined them to continue to adhere to the rules of the game.
Mr Odama, however, urged them to caution their followers against violence and assured them of the readiness of security agencies to allow everyone a level playing field as well as maintain peace and order.
The State Coordinator, National Orientation Agency, Mr Olusegun Adeyemi said that the agency will continue to sensitize the electorate on the need to collect their PVCS, and to avoid selling their votes.
Stakeholders at the event include representatives of security agencies, political parties, traditional rulers, Civil society organizations and the media.
ILORIN/RASHEEDAT ILIYAS