The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has restated its resolve to deploy Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) technology in the accreditation and uploading of polling unit results in the forthcoming Guber election, so as to enhance the credibility of the poll in the State.
INEC National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee, Barrister Festus Okoye, stated this in a keynote speech he gave at the maiden Forum organized by INEC Press Corps on Wednesday, declaring that only the vote of the people will determine who emerges as governor of the state.
He said BVAS device piloted recently in a federal constituency poll in Delta State, would be fully deployed in the accreditation of voters as well as uploading of the polling unit results as it did in Edo and Ondo States.
“The Commission will also deploy relevant and appropriate technology for the conduct of the Anambra State Governorship election. To this end, the Commission will deploy the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) for the accreditation of voters. The bimodal accreditation system will use fingerprints or facials for efficient voter accreditation.
“Therefore, those engaged in identity theft must steer clear of the polling units in Anambra State as only voters that are properly authenticated using their fingerprints or facials will be allowed to vote.
“The Commission will also use its new technological device to upload polling unit level results to its central result viewing portal. Nigerians that have access to internet facilities can log in and view the results as they are being uploaded. For this, we have commenced elaborate voter education and publicity activities in the State.
“The Commission is determined to conduct a good election in Anambra State and all its processes and procedures are geared and targeted at achieving this objective. We assure the people of Anambra State and indeed all Nigerians that the votes of the people will be the only determinant of leadership succession in Anambra State.”
Barrister Festus Okoye, who represented Mahmood Yakubu, INEC Chairman at the occasion, said the Commission prioritizes safety of the voters and INEC staff and expressed confidence that the security agencies under the leadership of the police will secure the process.
“We are fully aware of the fluid security situation in Anambra State and different parts of the country and we will continue to work with the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security at the National, State and Local Governments towards securing the electoral environment.
“The voters must be assured of their security and must feel confident approaching the polling units to exercise their democratic franchise. We must also realize that the responsibility of the Commission is to organize, undertake and supervise elections within the context and ambit of the Constitution. Section 178 of the Constitution has circumscribed the period for the conduct of governorship election and this period is cast in stone and immovable.
“We must do all that is constitutionally and legally possible to avoid the constitutional challenge that may likely ensue in the State if the Commission is unable to conduct elections on account of security challenges. On our part, we are determined to conduct a good election in Anambra and in other parts of Nigeria. We shall not compromise on the conduct of a good election in any part of Nigeria.”
He dismissed any fears of constitutional crisis in the state should the security situation lead to any postponement of the election on November 6.