Mock Accreditation: INEC Commissioner rate BVAS performance in Imo state, satisfactory

As part of activities to ensure hitch-free general election, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has concluded its mock accreditation in Owerri, Imo state.

The exercise which took place across 3 senatorial districts, 6 local governments, 12 wards, and 12 polling units had electorate come out to test the workings of Bimodal Voter Registration System, BVAS.

According to INEC, the purpose of the exercise is to test the practicality of the electoral management body’s latest technological innovation to the electoral process in the country.

Speaking to CAPITAL POST shortly after supervising the exercise, National Commissioner, Kenneth Ukeagu, said “The essence of the exercise is to ascertain the performance of the BVAS ahead of the 2023 general elections.

In addition, Ukeagu said, “We do not doubt the functionality of BVAS but we just have to test it on the field.
We are confident that on election day things will work out well”

On the possibility that lack of power might cause the BVAS not to perform optimally during the election.
Ukeagu said “every BVAS has a backup battery, it can also last up to 8 hours.

About the low turnout of voters, Ukeagu attributed It to not being an election day but also a market day.

He said “We expect that on election day the turnout will be high, this is just to test the BVAS”

On election day there are going to be restrictions, I don’t think the market will be open. The politicians are also doing their job of mobilization.

He further explained that the exercise is part of the commission’s preparations ahead of the general election testing the functionality of the BVAS, and of course, we need the support of the media to mobilize voters.

On her part, Imo State REC, Prof. Sylvia Uchenna Agu, assured residents of Imo of the functionality of the BVAS, she charged them to come out en masse to perform their civic duty. While assuring them that the state is prepared security-wise and in other aspects.

“As you can see the BVAS is working, I’m encouraging them to come out on election day to exercise their right.”

A resident of the IHO ward, a Businessman, Honorable Curtis Akangoziri, who transferred his polling Unit from Lagos to Imo state, expressed confidence in the INEC introduction of technology to Nigeria’s electoral process.

“I transferred my card to this center last year, I was living in Lagos.
Using technology in our elections is the best thing that has happened to this country” I wish INEC will uphold it.

Also, INEC should ensure that on Election Day the BVAS should work even better than it did at the mock accreditation”