Mock Accreditation: Why INEC migrated voters to new units – Official

Mrs Rebecca Jim, Head, Voter Education and Publicity, INEC Abia, on Saturday said that INEC migrated some voters from their original units to new sub units to reduce pressure and ensure a less cumbersome elections.

Jim made this clarification while speaking with our reporter at Aba North LGA on Saturday, following a mock voter accreditation conducted by the commission.

Jima was monitoring the INEC Mock Accreditation exercise in Aba North, which is one of the selected centres for the exercise in three senatorial districts of Abia.

She regretted that many voters so moved to smaller units had not known about it, stressing that soon INEC will begin educating voters on the action.

She, however, counseled voters to check the Voter Register at the Polling Centre located in their Unit which must be close to the old Polling Centre.

She said that the exercise was meant to check how well BVAS will work during the elections.

Jim, responding to questions on the functioning of the machine, said that the BVAS can function on and off-line and handle finger or facial recognition.

She also noted that its battery power can work for three days on the stretch without recharging.

She reminded residents that INEC requires the assistance of residents to make the election free, fair and credible and urged vigilance from the electorate.

Some residents of Aba North LGA who spoke to NAN on the exercise, expressed faith in INEC’s BVAS system and showed eagerness to vote in the coming election.

Dr Chinyere Ndubuka, who registered at the Eziama Ward 1 Unit 05 at Abia Polytechnic, said she came early to the venue, prepared for INEC to conduct the mock accreditation.

She said the success of the exercise and situation in the country had made voting mandatory for every living Nigerian for the February 25 elections, stressing her readiness to exercise her civil obligation.

Mrs Josephine Anyanwu, who registered at Eziama Railway Phase 1, Ward 1 Unit 01 in Aba North LGA, said that she was satisfied with the exercise.

She said she had been voting but her votes never counted but expressed hope that this time, it will be different as the INEC machines will help to sanitize the system.