No going back on BVAS; candidates shouldn’t deceive themselves, INEC says

The Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) in Plateau says the commission would not back down on using BVAS in the 2023 general elections.

The state Electoral Commissioner, Oliver Agundu, said this during a meeting with party leaders and candidates in Jos on Wednesday.

“Let me bring to your notice that there is no going back on the use of BVAS for the 2023 general elections,” he said.

Mr Agundu added, “Candidates should not deceive themselves but concentrate their energy on campaigns to canvass for votes, as everything will be transparent and in fairness to all parties.”

He stated that the commission was ready to deliver the most credible and transparent elections the state had ever witnessed.

Mr Agundu appealed to all stakeholders to always seek information from official sources in the commission than building stories based on assumptions and hearsay.

He said rumours and fake news were deadly weapons capable of causing chaos and upheaval, especially in a politically charged society like Nigeria.

The commissioner warned politicians to desist from visiting his home and unofficial venues but visit his office in the commission for business transactions.

He called on the public to visit collection centres for their PVCs as the collection was generally very poor.

Mr Agundu said to cushion the hectic process of PVCs collection, the commission would take the cards to villages at ward levels to make the process easier while calling on the collaboration of NGOs to make the process seamless.

Patrick Dakum, governorship candidate on the platform of the Labour Party, commended the commission for the meeting, promising to have hitch-free campaigns, free of rancour.

Mr Dakum promised to encourage their followers to collect their PVCs during campaigns to enable them to vote during the elections.

The PDP, APGA, and LP, among others, were present at the meeting, with the ruling APC visibly absent. 

(NAN)