2023 Elections: INEC Chairman Inspects National Collation Center …task Corp members not to leave BVAS with anyone

By Iyojo Ameh

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Mahmood Yakubu and his national commissioners has inspected the National Collation Center for the 2023 general election.

The Chairman while inspecting the facility said that, “we will perform basically three activities in this ICC”.
“First, there is a hall that will serve as a media centre for national, and international observers.

The Media center will be for press briefing where mini studios and Outside Broadcast Vans would be allowed to monitor results by the various media houses that would be given accreditation.

“The other hall will serve as the Collation Centre for the Presidential election and then beside the hall, it will be our Situation Room where we deploy our platforms; the INEC Citizens Contact Centre.”

He said that, the Situation room will have ad-hoc staff to monitor and respond to complaints from people in the field and it room would be open for everyone.

Prof. Yakubu also informed the press that the peace Committee would be meeting on Wednesday 23rd February to sign the 2023 peace pact for the elections noting that winners would receive their certificate of returns at the national collation Center, Abuja.

Also, the Chairman visited the training venue for the Presiding Officers and Assistant Presiding Officers I, II, and III in Abuja on Saturday where he said only the National Youths Service Corps are the only authorised election officers to handle the Bimodal Voter Authentication System during the election.

Prof Yakubu pointed out that the Commission cannot rely on its workforce for the conduct of a credible and peaceful election, hence, the need for mobilisation of the NYSC members.

The INEC Chairman tasked the Corps members to be loyal to Nigeria and Nigerians and not political parties.

He also told them that on no account should they leave the BVAS in the custody of another, adding that the Corps members are going to be tracked.

Yakubu explained “Nigeria is fortunate to have young citizens like you. There is no way INEC can conduct elections without the NYSC. You are simply indispensable in the conduct of elections in Nigeria. We cannot conduct elections with our workforce alone.

“So we have to rely on you and other categories of staff. But you are going to operate at the most important level of the electoral system; at the polling unit levels because that is where citizens go and vote. All of you will swear an oath of neutrality. Your loyalty is to Nigeria and Nigerians and not to any political party or any candidate. You will be the INEC Chairman at your polling unit. You are the King at the polling units.

“You are the only ones that will handle the BVAS at polling units on election day. Take this job seriously. We are tracking you as well so that we can know who is holding which BVAS. Do not give this BVAS to someone else.”
He assured of adequate security in and around the venue for national collation Center.