The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has taken measures to ensure that the upcoming governorship and state House of Assembly elections on March 11 are conducted smoothly and without any irregularities.
Following the challenges experienced during the general elections held on February 25, INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has announced that employees who were found to be negligent during the last elections would be banned from participating in the upcoming polls.
In addition, Yakubu revealed that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) would once again be deployed for voter accreditation and result management.
During a meeting with the commission’s Resident Electoral Commissioners, Yakubu stated that the commission must work harder to overcome the challenges experienced during the previous elections. He emphasized that nothing less than perfection would be acceptable to Nigerians.
As a result, all staff found to be negligent during the previous elections, including regular and ad hoc officials, collation and returning officers, would not be involved in the forthcoming elections.
RECs were also instructed to initiate disciplinary action immediately if prima facie evidence of wrongdoing was established. This decision was taken to ensure that the upcoming elections are conducted with the highest degree of integrity and transparency.
Yakubu further announced that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) would once again be deployed for voter accreditation and result management. The system had been used during the previous elections and had gone a long way in sanitizing voter accreditation, as evidenced by the results.
However, the commission had also experienced some glitches during the upload of results, which had to be rectified. As a result, the commission had intensified its review of the technology to ensure that the system runs optimally during the upcoming elections. Yakubu expressed confidence that the BVAS would help to ensure free, fair and credible elections.
Yakubu commended the efforts of Nigerians and the level of maturity shown by political leaders during the election period. He expressed appreciation for the cooperation and support of all stakeholders in ensuring that the electoral process is transparent and credible. He urged Nigerians to continue to support the commission in its efforts to conduct credible elections.
The Independent National Electoral Commission has taken steps to ensure that the upcoming governorship and state House of Assembly elections are conducted with the highest degree of integrity and transparency. The ban on negligent employees and the deployment of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System are part of these efforts.
The commission has expressed confidence that these measures will help to ensure free, fair and credible elections. Nigerians are urged to continue to support the commission in its efforts to conduct credible elections.
