Kogi, Bayelsa, Imo Elections: INEC deploys 46,084 workforce, expects improved BVAS performance

In preparation for the upcoming off-cycle governorship elections in Kogi, Imo, and Bayelsa state, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has expressed its anticipation of improved performance of Biometric Voter Accreditation System, BVAS, while deploying a workforce of 46,084 staff to ensure efficient conduct of the exercise.

INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, made this announcement during a meeting with the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) representing the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on a Friday in Abuja.

Yakubu went on to reveal that INEC has received applications from 80 media organizations, requesting permission to deploy a total of 1,203 personnel, comprising both journalists and technical/support staff, to cover and report on the upcoming elections.

“The 18 political parties participating in the elections are deploying 137,934 agents made up of 130,093 polling and 7,841 collation agents. We are also finalizing arrangements for vehicles and boats for land and maritime movement of personnel and materials,” he said.

He emphasized that the elections in Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi states will encompass 5,409,438 registered voters who will cast their ballots at 10,510 polling units distributed across 649 electoral Wards within 56 Local Government Areas.

Regarding the preparations for the elections he said “So far, all non-sensitive materials for the election have been delivered to the three States. Other preparatory activities, including training, are on course. Valuable lessons have been learnt from the 2023 General Election for improved performance in the forthcoming elections.

“Last week, we conducted a mock accreditation involving actual voters in designated polling units in the three States. We had two objectives for the exercise. First, to test the efficacy of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) for especially biometric authentication of voters.

“Secondly, to upload the result to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV). Both tests were successful. We look forward to improved performance of the BVAS in voter accreditation and result upload in the forthcoming elections.”

Yakubu also expressed the commission’s concern over the prevailing insecurity and election-related violence in the three states.

He however stated that the commission has been reassured of adequate deployment by the security agencies, adding that on INEC’s part, it will continue to deepen engagement with security agencies.

According to him, the commission will hold a series of meetings with stakeholders at the national level in addition to ongoing engagements at state level in preparation for the exercise.