By Okey Maduforo Awka
The Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC) announced that it will not use the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) for the the Saturday local government election.
The commission stated that BVAS is not reliable or credible, citing its disappointing performance in previous elections in Nigeria.
Tony Nnalue, the Commissioner in charge of Information and Logistics at ANSIEC, made the announcement during a sensitization program organized by the International Peace and Civil Responsibility Centre (IPCRC).
He said that the commission has opted for manual accreditation instead, deeming it more trustworthy.
“We will not use BVAS but manual. BVAS is not reliable; it has distorted the electoral process in Nigeria. We don’t want a situation where election results are tampered with at night in the name of BVAS,” he stated.
Nnalue also revealed that over 5,720 ad-hoc staff have been trained to conduct the elections across the state’s polling units. He also disclosed that he does not know the exact number of parties participating but confirmed that all political parties with a stake in the elections will be involved.
“Elections are not a gift; those who are serious will win,” he added.
He said that the commission will utilize voter registration data from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the elections.
He further noted that elections in certain areas of Nnewi South, Idemili South, and others will be conducted in their local government councils due to security concerns.
Chris Azor, the Coordinator of IPCRC, underscored the importance of vigilance, highlighting potential issues such as vote buying, violence, gender discrimination, and over-voting.
“As accredited observers, we are committed to ensuring a free, fair, credible, and peaceful local government election in Anambra State,” he stated.
Azor reiterated their dedication to impartial and independent observation, adherence to electoral laws, promotion of voter education, and accurate reporting of any incidents or irregularities.
He praised ANSIEC for its preparedness and urged political parties and candidates to promote peaceful conduct and stakeholder engagement.
He called on security agencies to maintain neutrality while respecting human rights and the rule of law. “Eligible voters need to exercise their franchise peacefully and refrain from actions contrary to electoral law,”
Accredited observers are expected to monitor voter verification, voting procedures, and result declarations by ANSIEC, adhering to the observers’ code of conduct” he stated.
Azor also announced that the organization will mobilize observers across the state and establish a Situation Room in Awka for real-time coordination and reporting.
He urged all stakeholders to remain mindful of the long road to restoring democracy at the local government level after over a decade of absence.
He cautioned participants to be vigilant and avoid confrontations, stressing the need for collaboration to prevent electoral violence and ensure a smooth voting process.
“Never announce results; only the electoral management body has the exclusive right to do so,” he added.
