The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will conduct a mock accreditation exercise across Osun State’s three senatorial districts ahead of the August 15 governorship election. The exercise aims to assess the commission’s level of preparedness for the upcoming poll.
INEC announced this on Sunday in a statement signed by the Head of Department, Voter Education, Publicity, Gender and Inclusivity, Ariyo Rufus. The commission scheduled the exercise for Saturday, August 1.
12 local governments selected for exercise
According to Rufus, the mock accreditation exercise will hold in designated polling units across 12 local government areas. These areas span the three senatorial districts of Osun State.
In Osun Central, the selected local governments include Osogbo, Olorunda, Ifelodun, and Boripe. In Osun West, the commission chose Egbedore, Ede North, Ede South, and Ejigbo. Furthermore, in Osun East, the selected areas are Ilesa West, Ilesa East, Oriade, and Obokun.
Exercise to test BVAS functionality
INEC explained that the exercise is designed to test the functionality and efficiency of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS). This will occur under conditions similar to Election Day. However, the commission stressed that there will be no voting during the exercise.
The mock accreditation will help the commission identify any potential challenges with the BVAS machines. It will also allow INEC to assess the readiness of its personnel and logistics. Consequently, this will ensure a smooth accreditation process on Election Day.
INEC urges registered voters to participate
The commission urged all registered voters in the selected polling units to participate with their Permanent Voter Cards. This participation is crucial for the success of the exercise.
INEC reaffirmed its commitment to conducting a free, fair, credible, transparent, and inclusive governorship election in Osun State. The commission emphasised that the mock exercise is part of its preparations to deliver a credible electoral process. Therefore, voters should take the exercise seriously and cooperate with INEC officials.
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