The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it will deploy technological device in the conduct of the November 6 Anambra governorship election which will involve live display of transmission of vote cast.
INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, in a message at an interactive forum organised by INEC Press Corps, said the commission will use its new technological device to upload polling unit level results to its central result viewing portal.
Prof. Yakubu who was represented by Festus Okoye, INEC National Commissioner in charge of Information and Voter Education committee, said Nigerians that have access to internet facilities could log in and view the results as they are being uploaded.
He stated that the commission will deploy the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) for the accreditation of voters, for identification of “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 INEC Chairman assured that the commission is determined to conduct a good election in Anambra State, adding that “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.”
Prof. Yakubu appealed to election stakeholders to rally round INEC and give their maximum cooperation towards this goal.
“The commission needs a safe and secure environment for efficient and professional deployment of staff and materials,” he said.
The INEC Chairman reminded politicians that some youth corps members who will form the bulk of presiding officers “are the only sons and daughters of their parents.
“Some of them graduated from school through determined perseverance in the face of hardship. Some of them are the products of community effort while some of them did menial jobs to graduate.
“We therefore have a responsibility to protect them in the performance of this national assignment.
“No form of insurance can cover for the loss of one life and the commission will on no account compromise on the safety and welfare of these individuals and all other staff that will be deployed for the election.”
Prof. Yakubu noted that the fluid security situation in Anambra State and different parts of the country but assured that INEC 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.
“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 said.
Chairman of INEC Press Corps Segun Ojumu noted the improvements and innovation that INEC has brought into the electoral process, and expressed the belief that “more could be done to ensure that people with disabilities or people with albinism who have peculiar needs are well catered to.”
Ojumu stated that from the report of the World Health Organisation in 2018, about 29 million of the 195 million of Nigeria’s national population were living with a disability.
“We are well aware of the needs of our friends from the Inclusive Friends Association. We use this forum to urge INEC to provide sign language interpreters at polling units and registration centres for the November the 6 Anambra governorship election and future elections.
“We also looking forward to a time when polling units become more accessible to PWDs.
“If we achieve greater inclusion in the electoral process, the challenge of apathy will be addressed as far as this category of voters is concerned,” he added.
