The Chairman Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC Professor Yakubu Mahmoud, has reaffirmed that the method of accreditation and transmission of election results for the three states participating in November off cycle governorship elections is INEC Result Viewing Portal, IREV, as required by the country’s electoral laws.
Prof. Yakubu said this today, 14th October, 2023 at Ganaja village polling unit, Ajaokuta area of Kogi State during his on-the-spot assessment of the mock accreditation and facilities as well as readiness of the INEC officials in the state for the off cycle governorship elections.
According to Prof. Yakubu, The method is as provided by law, electronic accreditation, electronic upload of results on the IREV portal and that is why we are doing this mock. So please disregard whatever was reported about what the REC was said to have said in Bayelsa.
"That's going to be the procedure and it's for that reason that I will advise you also for those who are registered on the IREV portal, that in the next two hours or so, they should go to the IREV portal you will see the result of the mock from all the three states, we are uploading, as we have done in previous elections."
Addressing journalists at one of the polling units which is most densely populated in Nigeria with13,000 registered voters, the INEC boss said "ater the election, the Commission will redistribute the voters to other approximate locations. But for now, we'll have to conduct the elections with the number of registered voters in this polling unit. And for that reason, we are deploying a minimum of eight BVAS machines on election day, Saturday 11, November 2023 for easy accreditation of voters."
He also identified challenges of the location which is flooding. "It is not only by the river Niger, it is actually by confluence, where River Niger and Benue meet and on our way you saw evidence of flooding. And that's why we took you to Gadumu where if there is flooding before the election, we'll pull the adhoc staff our of there and move them at first light on Saturday to this polling unit.
The INEC chairman also revealed that the commission is providing alternative poling units at Family Support Program Nursery, Primary and UBE Junior Secondary School Gaduma Lokoja to Ganaja Poling units centers in the event of flooding on the election day.
But our preference will be to use this place as a super-rack where we will camp the ad hoc stuff overnight so that they will do the setting up on Friday and at first light on Saturday, INEC officials and materials will be waiting for voters rather than the other way around. So this is one of the largest polling units in the country and that's where we are here."
On security threats, he added, "well, so far so good in terms of assurance from the security agencies as we can see, they're even here for the MOCK and next week, Friday. There is going to be a high level meeting in Abuja, chaired by myself and the national security adviser in which all the security chiefs will be present, no representation to discuss the issue of security for the three states so we are on top of the situation in terms of security arrangement and security deployment."
The INEC boss also had a close door meeting with the Electoral Officers during the assessment your, urging them to activate the Registration Areas Centres RACS, at schedule time, which he said would help to open polling units as scheduled.
Professor Yakubu maintained that the commission major concern in the elections is security, adding that INEC is collaborating with security agencies to arrest any incidence of insecurity before, during and after elections.
He told the Election Officers to bag properly all Non sensitive materials on ground for easy movement on election day.He urged all electoral officers in to use the standard template set for the exercise.
In his remarks the Kogi Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Hale Gabriel Longpet said the Mock Accreditation takes place today in 9 LGAS and in 9 Polling Units (PUs). There have also been publicity at all levels to sensitise the public in those areas to come out for the exercise.
He added that the official presentation of voters' Register for the state was held on Thursday the 12th October and the official notice of Poll will be publicized on Monday the 16th October 2023.
On Transport Arrangements, he said talks have been held with the Unions both at the State and Local Government Areas (LGAs) levels. There are no problems yet as these talks have gone very well.
"In the area of difficult terrains, we have requested support of the Commission to assist us in terms of costs of transportation of materials and personnel to some areas of the State; e.g Kupa, Egan, Kakanda, Ibaji and certain areas of Kogi (KK). Stakeholders' Meetings: These have been held both at the State and Local Government Areas (LGAs) levels."
Briefing the INEC Chairman on Electoral Operations, he said none sensitive materials: All have been received and sent to the Local Government Areas. These have also been batched according to Registration Areas (RAS) and Polling Units (PUs). The only item not received is the APO, ID Cards.
He noted that the recruitment of Ad-hoc staff have started, he said names of applicants have been downloaded from the INEC PRESS and compiled them according to the categories. We have surplus applicants in all areas except for RAC Managers where we are short. Arra7ngements are under way to make up this shortfall. Screening started yesterday in all Local Government Areas (LGAS) and training for SPOS will start on Monday.
SpyeTV News reports that the turnout for the mock accreditation ahead of November 11th Governorship Election in Bayelsa is impressive. In Artisa in yenagoa, there is even a queue of voters waiting to be accredited. And we believe it is the same story that we'll be hearing very soon from Imo.
In INEC Chairmans convoy to Kogi state were, the National Supervising Commissioner for Kogi, Kwara and Niger States, Prof. Mohammed Sani Adams (SAN), Hon. National Commissioner Mallam Mohammed Kudu Haruna, Directors from Abuja, Chief Press Secretary Mr Rotimi Oyekanmi, Administrative Secretary, Heads of Departments here present, senior members of staff the Commission and members of INEC press Corp.