INEC Updates Stakeholders on Activities Ahead of 2023 General Election

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, says the commission will suspend online registration from 30th of this month to enable registrants complete physical registration at designated centres before suspension of last quarter of the Continous Voters Registration, CVR on 30th June, this year.
INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Oyo state, Dr Mutiu Agboke, who made this known at the fourth stakeholders meeting of the CVR in Ibadan, pointed out that the decision would enable INEC to clean up the registration data, print Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs and compile the register ahead of the 2023 general elections.
Dr Agboke stressed that the commission has deployed the Automated Biometric Identification System, ABIS for accreditation and verification.
He also explained that the introduction of Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS was to engender confidence in the electoral process.
The REC, while reiterating that the commission would not reckon with kangaroo primaries from political parties, urged political parties to submit their nominations for the presidential and national assembly through INEC portal from 10th and 17th of June, 2022.
Oyo State Director, National Orientation Agency, NOA, Mr. Kayode Odedokun emphasized the need for Nigerians to adhere to laid down rules and regulations for national development, adding that NOA would always collaborate INEC to improve on electoral process.
In a remark, the chairman, Inter-Party Advisory Committee, IPAC, Oyo state, Apostle Dare Ojo stated that the political parties would sustain cordial working relationships with INEC and security agencies with a view to putting an end to electoral malpractices.
A member representing Ogbomoso North state constituency in the Oyo state house of assembly, Mrs Olawumi Oladeji while calling for more women participation in politics, promised to disseminate information on collection of PVCs to the grassroots.
The Commissioner of Police in Oyo state, Mrs Ngozi Onadeko represented by ASP Akiinlade Akindele gave assurance that the police and other security agencies were committed to providing adequate security of lives and property and prosecute electoral offenders.
Religious leaders including the Chief Imam of Ibadanland, Sheikh Abdulganiy Agbotomokekere representated by Alhaji Abdulrazaq Abdsalaam, the chairperson Women Wing of Christian Association of Nigeria, Oyo state, Dr Patricia Amaech-Obi, representative of the Civil Society Organizations, Alhaja Aisha Ismail, representative of Persons Living with Disabilities, Mr. Musa Akinsawe, state, the chairman, National Youth Council of Nigeria, Oyo State, Mr. Qodr Abdsalaam, state chairmen of political parties highlighted their contributions to make the 2023 general elections free and fair.
Highlights of the event included explanation of BVAS mode of operations by the Head, INEC ICT unit, Mrs Wumi Balogun and drama presentation by INEC cultural group to sensitize Nigerians on the need to collect their PVCs, shun vote buying and political violence.
Sherifdeen Nashirdeen