INEC Insists Elections will be Peaceful

By Mosope Kehinde

Eligible voters in Oyo state on Saturday participated in the mock verification and accreditation exercise embarked on by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC in the state.

Radio Nigeria correspondent, who was on the entourage of INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Oyo State, Dr Adeniran Tella to monitor the exercise, reports that accreditation of voters in the selected centres were seamless.

The exercise, which commenced at half past eight in the morning, took place simultaneously across the selected local governments, including Akinyele, Atiba, Iseyin, Ogbomoso North, Ibadan North and Ido.

A visit to ward 4, polling 006 and Oba Akinbiyi High School II, Mokola all in Ibadan North, as well as Onile Aro Junction and Anglican Primary School, Akingile 1, in Akinyele Local government revealed that there were low turn out of eligible voters.

Two of the electorates and chieftains of different political parties, Mr Adekunle Oladeji and Mr Olumide Alli, satisfaction with the functionality of the Bimodal Voters’ Accreditation System, BVAS.

While attributing the low turn out of eligible voters for the mock exercise to inadequate awareness, the respondents expressed hope that the electoral umpire would maintain the effective functionality of the BVAS machines during the forthcoming elections.

Also speaking, Oyo state Director, National Orientation Agency, NOA, Mr Kayode Odedokun said the successful use of BVAS at the mock accreditation and verification exercise was an assurance of credible polls in this year’s general election.

Reacting, INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Oyo state, Dr Adeniran Tella, who was satisfied with the performance of the BVAS machines, said the exercise was an attempt to show Nigerians that the new model of Voter verification, accreditation and upload of election results had come to stay.

Dr Tella assured that, with the commitment and synergy of stakeholders in the electoral process, INEC would deliver a credible, free and fair elections in the forthcoming polls.