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Chairman Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Prof. Mahmood Yakubu has expressed the commission’s readiness to partner the National Population Commission (NPC) to clean up voter register.
Speaking Thursday in Abuja at a quarterly consultative meeting with media, the INEC chairman said the template for cleaning up of the register was being worked out.
“We are working with the NPC for the purpose of cleaning up the voter register. We are designing a template for that purpose,” he said.
The INEC chairman also said there were outstanding bye elections resulting from the 2023 polls.
“Out of the 11 bye elections, the INEC chairman said five elected lawmakers died while the rest were as a result of resignations by those who secured political appointments,” he said.
He however expressed the hope that in the next one month, all litigations would have been over to enable them commence the conduct of the bye elections.
“So far, we have 11 bye elections. Five members died and 11 resigned in eleven different states and 11 constituencies,” Yakubu said.
He asked media practitioners in the country to form a bulwark against fake news in the country while strictly adhering to the ethics of journalism.
He said: “I wish to remind all media organisations to strictly adhere to the ethics of your profession. We welcome reports on the election. At the same time, you should form a bulwark against fake news.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Commission does not believe in censorship. We have said repeatedly that the best antidote to fake news is greater openness and regular and consistent engagement with stakeholders. We will continue to work together in this regard.”
Professor Yakubu disclosed that about 94 media organisations deploying 1,255 personnel have been accredited to cover the off-cycle elections in the three states, adding that “in the next few days, the accredited media organisations will be notified of the date for the collection of the identity cards for their officials.”
Giving further details on plans for the elections, he said: “About two weeks ago, the commission conducted a mock accreditation involving actual voters in designated polling units in the three states.
“By doing so, we tested the efficacy of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) for both biometric authentication of voters and the upload of results to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV).
“Some of you observed the mock accreditation exercise and viewed the results on the IReV portal. We have received no adverse report so far.
“By this, we are encouraged that the test was successful and we look forward to improved performance of the BVAS in voter accreditation and result upload in the forthcoming Governorship elections and beyond.”
He further said: “Election is a multi-stakeholder activity. In discharging our responsibilities, we will continue to engage with all stakeholders. One of such engagements is with the security agencies.
“In previous elections, media organisations have expressed concern about the safety of journalists, technical staff and protection of the equipment you deploy on Election Day.
“Similarly, you have on several occasions urged the Commission to intercede with the security agencies to grant you unimpeded access to polling and collation locations. I want to reassure you that we will continue to do so as we engage with the security agencies both at the national level and in the three states.”
The INEC chairman said the commission considered the elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi governorship as critical, even as he disclosed that security and flooding were capable of militating against the governorship elections in some areas, especially in Kajana in the Ajaokuta area of Kogi state.
