The mock accreditation exercise for the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Ondo on Saturday witnessed a large turnout. 

The exercise which began around 9:00 a.m. was conducted in six local government areas of the state, a Peoples Gazette reporter observed.

In Akure, the mock accreditation was held at the Sacred Heart Primary School, Cathedral, and the St. Stephen Primary School in Ijomu.

The seamless exercise showed INEC officials attending to the intending electorates with an average time per accreditation between 60 and 90 seconds. 

Olufunmike Segun-Osifeso, spokeswoman for INEC, had said the mock BVAS accreditation was part of preparations for the 2023 general elections.

Mrs Segun-Osifeso said the exercise was put together to technically evaluate and testrun the device, stressing that its visibilities needed to be put in check. 

“The exercise would help to test the credibility of the BVAS, and the visibilities of both the hard and software of the machine,” she added. 

Kunle Ajayi, the INEC National Commissioner supervising Ondo, Osun, and Ekiti States, who supervised the exercise expressed satisfaction, noting that it was part of the commission’s readiness for the general elections.

Mr Ajayi, who visited two local governments, in both Ondo and Akure, noted that the exercise had shown that people were ready for the February 25 and March 11 polls. 

“In all the places I visited today (Saturday), the turnout is very huge and fantastic which means people are aware that the election is coming up in the next  21 days.

“I can happily tell you that all the BVAS are working perfectly and our staff is ready as well and they had been series of training for the elections,” he said. 

“I want to assure the electorates that nobody will stay in the queue more than necessary because that is why the commission has divided some polling unit that has more than 1000 registered voters into two for the sake of efficiency.” Mr Ajayi further added. 

He, however, reiterated INEC’s commitment to a free, fair, and credible election across the country, and urged the electorates not to entertain any fear about the activities of hoodlums threatening to disrupt the process. 

In a related development, the Civil Societies Organisation in Osun has commended INEC for the BVAS mock exercise held in the state.

Franklin Oloniju, chairman of the organisation, said the exercise showed the readiness of the commission to carry out a credible election in the country.

“With what I have seen concerning the BVAS capturing today which was done in less than 15 seconds, it has shown that BVAS is working,” Mr Oloniju said. 

Some intending voters who participated in the exercise commended INEC for initiating the conduct of the BVAS mock accreditation before the polls. 

One of them, Ronke Ajibade, said the introduction of BVAS would give ordinary voters the confidence to exercise their civic rights.  

INEC has fixed February 25 and March 11 for the general elections.