News
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”
Operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS), have arrested two principal suspects involved in the killing of 16 Nigerians of Northern extraction in Uromi, Esan North East Local Government last week.
The suspects were arrested by operatives of the DSS in Uromi, following credible intelligence. Operatives of various security agencies are hunting for other key suspects involved in the unfortunate incidents
Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, had on Monday in Kano State, during a condolence visit, revealed that 14 suspects had already been arrested in connection with the killing.
Governor Okpebholo who visited the State to condole with the Government and families of the victims, had vowed that justice will be served and those involved in the killing will be brought to justice.
Governor Okpebholo had also assured families of the victims that adequate compensations will be paid.
In the latest development, the two principal suspects arrested by officials of the DSS, have been transferred to Abuja, the nation’s capital, for further interrogation and prosecution by the relevant authorities.
A Nigerian televangelist, Timothy Omotoso has been acquitted of rape after spending eight years in prison in South Africa.
Trouble started when the televangelist was accused of raping young women from his South African church, an accusation he denied when he was arrested eight years ago.
His trial was aired live I South Africa and gained interest across the country, but insisted that he was not guiltynof 32-count charges against him.
In 2018, one witness told the court she had been raped by the pastor – who ran a church in the city of Port Elizabeth – when she was 14 years old.
The presiding judge on Wednesday 1st April, 2025 delivered judgement, saying Pastor Timothy Omotoso has not bèn found guilty over this case because prosecutors had mishandled the case.
South Africa’s National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) shared a similar assessment, saying that “former prosecutors in the case acted improperly and the accused were not sufficiently cross-examined by the state”.
The NPA said it will now “consider its legal options”.
For his part, Mr Omotoso told the media he thanked God for the verdict.
His co-accused, Lusanda Sulani and Zikiswa Sitho, were also found not guilty.
Mr Omotoso was dramatically arrested at an airport in 2017 as he sought to leave the country.
His trial was the first prominent rape case to be broadcast live in a country where sexual violence is rampant.
The hearings attracted huge interest, and raised difficult questions about victims’ rights, impartiality and whether justice is best served by having television cameras in courtrooms.
Following Wednesday’s verdict, Mr Omotoso will be deported to Nigeria, South African media outlet News24 reported.
The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has declared that it has been vindicated by recent revelations from the state’s former Head of Service, Dr. George Nwaeke.
The Rivers APC Chairman, Chief Tony Okocha, stated this in a statement he personally signed and made available to journalists on Wednesday.
The former Head of Service, who recently resigned had alleged that the suspended Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, was directly responsible for the political crisis in the state and the bombing of the State House of Assembly.
In response, the Rivers State APC asserted that Nwaeke’s testimony aligns with the party’s long-held position, as frequently stated by Chief Okocha, that the suspended governor was the architect of the state’s political crisis, including masterminding the October 29, 2023, bombing of the State House of Assembly.
Chief Okocha further emphasized that Nwaeke’s account, given his high-ranking position in the state, cannot be dismissed as mere speculation.
He said attempts to discredit the former Head of Service will not deter him from exposing the alleged corruption and misconduct that the APC has repeatedly highlighted.
“What is most interesting to the APC in Rivers State as a responsible political party is that Dr. George Nwaeke’s revelations and testimonies of how suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his squad bombed the Rivers State House of Assembly is an eye witness account.
“Again , it has clearly vindicated the APC in Rivers State as the only visible and viable opposition political party in the State, and has cemented the love for the party in the heart of well meaning Rivers people as the voice of the voiceless, and the hope for a better Rivers State.
“The revelations made by the former Head of Service in Rivers State has further positioned her as a political party with high level of integrity, and the hope of Rivers people for a viable alternative to produce the Governor of Rivers State in 2027.
“The verbal attacks staged against the resigned Head of Service will not deter him from exposing the corruption within Sim Fubara’s administration, which we have consistently highlighted as the opposition party. On this matter, the APC shall function as watchdogs”, the party stated.
Chief Tony Okocha expressed confidence that security agencies would thoroughly investigate the matter.
“The APC in Rivers State strongly believes that the relevant security agencies will be professional enough to get to the root of the matter and make their findings public”, he said.
-
Security5 days agoNew Commissioner of Police in Niger, Elleman sends strong warning to criminals
-
News4 days agoAbia: LG Chairman, Iheke accused of using soldiers to detain IRS agent, claims Governor Otti’s support
-
News5 days agoKogi Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo salutes Tinubu at 74
-
News5 days agoPlateau LP stakeholders endorses Barr Gyang Zi’s defection to APC
-
News3 days agoKogi government bans rallies ahead of Natasha’s homecoming slated for Tuesday
-
News5 days agoAkpabio pays historic visit to office of SA to President on Senate Matters
-
News3 days agoIran may secure a deal before Trump’s deadline – or face Israeli strikes in Tehran – analysis
-
Business5 days agoFCT Minister reveals how he would aggressively pursue revenue collection, tours infrastructure