INEC Mock Accreditation Exercise Aimed At Boosting Electoral System - Agboke 

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Resident Electoral Commissioner for Osun State, Dr Mutiu Agboke has emphasized that the mock accreditation exercise which would hold on Saturday February 4, 2023, is aimed at reassuring the general public of the robustness of the electoral system.

Agboke also stated that the exercise which is aimed at strengthening the processes ahead of the General Election is a nationwide one designed by the Commission in preparation for the forthcoming General Elections. 

Making this known in an address during the meeting of political parties chairmen and other stakeholders on Wednesday in Osogbo, Agboke added that at the end of the exercise the 12 BVAS machine involved will be reconfigured before they are deployed for the General Elections.

"This exercise will enable the Commission to analyze the performance of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) before the general elections.

"Let me reiterate our commitment to transparent, credible and inclusive 2023 General Elections.

"We will continue to take every step to protect the sanctity of the votes cast by citizens and to deal with infractions, including the arrest and prosecution of persons that attempts to perpetrate illegality at polling units on election day in any form."

The Osun INEC boss while enjoining members of the public to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) also urged them to on election day watch out for those that plan to bypass the BVAS and determine to collect the ballot papers to vote.

"Watch out for those that plan to by-pass the BVAS and determine to collect the ballot papers to vote.

"They are criminally minded people. Watch our staff very closely who may want to connive with such criminal elements. Anyone found culpable shall be prosecuted.

"I assure you again that your vote will count in this election.

"But we must all own the process together to be able to achieve credible poll."

The Commissioner of Police for Osun Police Command, Patrick Kehinde Longe in his address, assured that during the mock accreditation exercise, the police and other security agencies will be on ground to provide adequate security.

Longe appealed to all the political parties to inform security agencies about their movements in order for such information to be relayed to other political parties in order to avert clashes.

"Political clashes has been due to lack of communication. With the Electoral Act, the time of trouble is over.

"Politicians need mental capacity and ability to talk to people to convince them to vote for them."

The mock accreditation exercise is to test the efficiency and success of the exercise.

The Osun Chairman of the Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Ademola Adebayo appealed to the electorates to go to the designated polling units to cast their votes to make the exercise a success.