The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has urged registered voters in the 436 designated polling units nationwide to participate in the Saturday mock accreditation with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).

INEC chairman Mahmood Yakubu made the call when he received a delegation of the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), led by its president, Anthony Banbury, in Abuja on Monday.

Mr Yakubu also urged registered voters yet to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to use the opportunity of extending the deadline to collect their cards. He said the commission was committed to free, fair and credible elections, adding that the will of Nigerians would prevail during the exercise.

“One of the things that we have decided to do is to ensure that we test run the device by conducting a mock accreditation exercise. We have announced that this exercise is going to happen on Saturday, February 4, meaning it is going to happen this weekend. So once again, I seize the opportunity of this visit to appeal to Nigerians to please go to the designated polling units,” he said.

According to him, 436 of the designated PUs nationwide, 12 PUs in each state of the Federation and four in the FCT so that voters can test-run the device.

“In the unlikely event of challenges, we have time between the conclusion of the exercise and the general election to respond to the challenges. But we are very happy with the functionality of the machines so far, particularly the tests carried out on the number of machines received in preparation for the general election,” he said.

Mr Yakubu also appealed to civil society organisations, the media, political parties and Nigerians to observe where they wish to deploy the BVAS for the mock exercise on Saturday.

On the preparations for the 2023 general elections, Yakubu said that INEC had made progress in acquiring and delivering materials for the election.

He said that the largest chunk of materials required for the election, both sensitive and non-sensitive, were already in various locations.

“I think we’re lucky the preparation has gone on very well. And then, with the benefit of the new Electoral Act, we have more time to prepare than our predecessors had in the past,” stated the INEC chair.

Yakubu said INEC was also working with the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) to get logistics right for early commencement, the conclusion of votes, and the declaration of results.

He added that the commission would begin training election duty staff by February 9.

(NAN)