'Seun Ibukun-Oni, Abuja
DAILY COURIER — Ahead of the upcoming governorship election in Ondo State, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, officially commissioned a new Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) storage facility at the Commission's State office in Akure. This marks the beginning of a series of preparatory activities leading up to the election scheduled for November 16, 2024.
Prof. Yakubu’s visit to Ondo State was his first official engagement upon arrival, where he was accompanied by National Commissioners, senior officials, and a technical team from INEC. The facility, which will house the BVAS machines used for voter accreditation, is a significant improvement over the previous storage setup.
A fresh start after a devastating fire incident
In a speech before cutting the ribbon to officially open the new storage facility, Prof. Yakubu reflected on the fire incident that occurred in 2020, just days before the Ondo State governorship election. The blaze destroyed the previous storage facility, which housed the Smart Card Readers (SCRs) intended for use in the election. The fire forced INEC to quickly mobilize SCRs from the Oyo State office to ensure the smooth conduct of the election.
“This new facility is not just a replacement, but an improved version designed to securely house our BVAS machines in a safe and conducive environment,” Yakubu said, highlighting the Commission's commitment to ensuring that all logistics for the upcoming election are in place and secure.
The BVAS machines, which have replaced the Smart Card Readers, are crucial for the accreditation of voters in Nigeria’s elections. The machines combine fingerprint and facial recognition technology to authenticate voters, improving the credibility of the electoral process.
Focus on logistics and results management
In an interaction with the press earlier at the Akure airport, Prof. Yakubu discussed key challenges INEC has faced in previous elections, including the Edo State governorship election. He pointed out that logistics and result management were critical areas that had posed significant challenges for the Commission.
“We have learned valuable lessons from past elections, including the Edo governorship election, and we are committed to addressing the issues that arose, especially with regard to logistics and the management of results,” Yakubu said, stressing that INEC was taking proactive steps to improve these areas ahead of the Ondo election.
He assured voters in Ondo State that they would witness significant improvements in these processes during the upcoming election, especially in the speed and accuracy of results transmission.
As part of his visit, Prof. Yakubu will also conduct an assessment of the Commission’s preparedness at various levels. This will include visits to local government area offices in Ondo State to evaluate their readiness for the election. Additionally, he will monitor a mock accreditation exercise slated for November 6, 2024, which will serve as a trial run for the BVAS machines in real election settings.
Beyond operational assessments, Yakubu is expected to meet with key stakeholders involved in the election process, including security agencies, transport unions, and INEC staff members. These discussions will aim to address potential challenges and ensure all parties are aligned on the logistics and security measures required for the successful conduct of the election.
One of the major events during the weeklong visit will be the signing of the Peace Accord organized by the National Peace Committee. This event is part of INEC's ongoing efforts to ensure a peaceful and transparent election process, where political stakeholders pledge to uphold peace and fairness during the election period.
Prof. Yakubu emphasized that INEC was fully committed to conducting a free, fair, and credible election, in line with the Commission’s mission to strengthen Nigeria’s democratic process. The commissioning of the new BVAS storage facility in Akure is just one of many steps INEC is taking to ensure that the 2024 Ondo State governorship election is transparent, secure, and efficient.
As the election draws closer, INEC continues to reassure the public of its readiness and determination to deliver an election that reflects the will of the people of Ondo State.
.jpeg)
