…Assured that system will run optimally
Those found culpable in the last presidential and National Assembly elections will be exempted from the Saturday’s state elections, NewsSpecng learnt.
This is as the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, said the Commission will deploy the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS in the coming 11 March 2023 Governorship and State assembly polls despite the hitches in the last elections.
Yakubu spoke while addressing the Resident Electoral Commissioners, REC on Saturday.
The INEC boss admitted hitches in the conduct of the Presidential and National Assembly polls.
He however promised that the identified challenges would be rectified before the next poll, which is just a week away.
He stressed that the immediate concern of the commission would be how to address the concerns identified.
He said, “This is our 3rd meeting in less than two months. Like the last two meetings, the purpose is to discuss the conduct of the 2023 General Election. Arising from the Presidential and National Assembly elections held a week ago, and with the Governorship and State Assembly elections holding next week, it is imperative to review performance and assess preparations.
“No doubt, last week’s national elections raised a number of issues that require immediate, medium, and long-term solutions. The planning for the election was painstakingly done. However, its implementation came with challenges, some of them unforeseen. The issues of logistics, election technology, behaviour of some election personnel at different levels, attitude of some party agents and supporters added to the extremely challenging environment in which elections are usually held in Nigeria.
“We appreciate the sacrifice and doggedness of Nigerians and the dignity and maturity displayed by political leaders even in the context of divergent views about the election. A lot of lessons have been learnt.
“Of immediate concern to the Commission is how the identified challenges can be addressed as we approach the concluding phase of the General Election involving the largest number of constituencies i.e. 28 State Governorship elections and 993 State Houses of Assembly seats.
