…As Lagos records 88% PVC collection
From Cyriacus Nnaji, Lagos
Resident Electoral Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Lagos State, Mr Olusegun Agbaje, has stated that the electoral body in Lagos did not enter into any agreement with Musiliu Akinsanya popularly known as MC Oluomo, to move electoral materials in the forthcoming elections in Lagos State.
Agbaje also stated that Lagos State recorded 88% PVC collection before the end of the exercise.
Mr Agbaje made the disclosures at an Enlarged Stakeholders Forum of the electoral body which was held on Thursdau, 9th February, 2023 at the Media Centre, INEC State Office, Sabo-Yaba, Lagos.
Recalled that there was news making the rounds on social media that the electoral body in Lagos signed an agreement with the Parks Committee Management under the control of Musiliu Akinsanya who allegedly is loyal to Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress and Governor Sanwo-Olu of Lagos, a decision which did not go down well with some political parties in the state.
Agbaje said that several things have been put in place as part of preparations to ensure good election including among others, Testing of Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS); Issuance of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to their owners, saying that a total of six million, seven hundred and eight thousand, four hundred and fifty-one (6,708,451) PVCs were collected by their owners at the end of the exercise on 5th February, 2023 out of Seven million, six hundred and thirty-seven thousand, four hundred and two (7,637,402) PVCs received in the State between 2011 and 2023. This figure represents a total PVC collection of 88% in the State.
Speaking on the use of the Permanent Voters Card (PVC) and the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) he said the Commission more than ever before is very determined to conduct very good elections into the various offices during the 2023 General Election. “The Commission more than ever before is very determined to conduct very good elections into the various offices during the 2023 General Election.”
The Objective of the Forum according to the commission was to cement the relationship that exists between INEC and election stakeholders in Lagos State ahead of the 2023 General Election slated for 25th February and 11th March, 2023.
Earlier Agbaje Electoral Data for Lagos State, Number of Local Governent in Lagos 20, Number of regisrtration areas in lagos, 245, number of polling unmits 13,325; Electoral, constituencies, senate 3, federal house of representatives, 24, state house of representatives, 40. No. of Registration Area Centres (RACs)/Super RACs 224.
He informed the stakeholders that there are only 18 presidential candidate and only one vacancy ias far as the state is concerned, one governorship seat and 16 contestants; 26 contestants, the house of representatives has 24 seats in Lagos, 162 contestants, while the 40 seats in the state house of assembly are being contested by 394 persons.
On the number of BVAS deployed in the state and how it is being distributed, Agbaje said No. of BVAS to be deployed: (Contingency to be provided) 13,325
He informed all those present that what qualify anybody to vote on the day of the election is the accreditation. ”Please note that all voters must be accredited with the use of BVAS and any Polling Unit where the total number of accredited voters is less than total vote cast i. e over-voting, the election will be cancelled and zero will be recorded for all political parties (section 40 of INEC Regulations and Guidelines for the conduct of election 2022).”
INEC is sourcing and screening Ad-hoc staff from NYSC, Tertiary Institutions, Ministries, Departments and Agencies. He further spoke on activation of help desk to directly receive complaints from all stakeholders and the general public through the following phone number: 08145419483. The commission has also embarked on training of trainers; training of Security Agents at State level on 3rd and 4th February, 2023 and 6th and 7th February, 2023 at the Senatorial District level; Identification/inspection of Registration Area Centres (RACs) ahead of activation for the accommodation of ad-hoc staff on the eve of the election;
He said ongoing activities include: Printing of Register of Voters; Configuration of BVAS; Voter sensitization; Monitoring of political parties campaigns; and Stakeholders engagements among others.
Other planned activities include: Training of Ad-hoc staff: Supervisory Presiding Officers: Collation Officers/Returning Officers; Deployment of Ad-hoc staff/security personnel; Engagement and signing of agreement with transporters in the presence of security agents; Receipt of sensitive materials from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for onward movement to the LGA offices; Activation of Registration Area Centres (RACs); Movement of men and materials to the RACs/PUs in company of security agents; Election Day activities; i.e moving from RACs to PUs/setting up their tables, cubicles and ballot boxes. To arrive there by 7:30am on Saturday, 25th February, 2023. Movement of men and materials back to the INEC LGA offices in company of security agents (reverse logistics); Collation and announcement of result among others.
Meanwhile, the Commission has migrated/moved some voters in densely populated Polling Units to low population density Polling Units within some vicinity for better control and seamless accreditation and voting on Election Day. In areas where there are voter population density, more BVAS would be deployed for better crowd management and ease of accreditation and voting. Accordingly, the register of affected voters will be pasted at the poling units involved very soon and community leaders will be appropriately sensitized to assist in getting the voters involved in checking exact polling units which are within the same vicinity.
On time table for the election proper, he said “Polling will take place on Saturday, 25th February and 11th March, 2023; Accreditation and voting shall commence at 8:30am and close at 2:30pm, provided that all the voters already in the queue by 2:30pm shall be allowed for accreditation and voting; Voters will vote at the polling units assigned to them by the Commission.”
It should be noted that every Nigerian with a valid voter’s card is eligible to vote in the election. However, he/she must do so in accordance with the relevant rules guiding the electoral process. Whoever runs contrary to these rules is liable on conviction to be penalized.
The Objective of the Forum according to the commission was to cement the relationship that exists between INEC and election stakeholders in Lagos State ahead of the 2023 General Election slated for 25th February and 11th March, 2023.
Speaking on what is expected from the stakeholders, he said “At this juncture, permit me to reiterate some of the Commission’s expectations from the stakeholders during this electioneering period, including: Assist in securing the Commission’s assets including men and materials; Engage in effective, positive, purposeful and sustainable participation in the democratic process; Shun violence, fake news, malpractices, snatching of ballot boxes, buying and selling of voters cards, intimidation of election officials, vote buying and all other election vices;
Continue to fervently work and pray for peaceful co-existence among the citizenry;
Come out enmass to vote for the candidates of their choice during the election.
“In addition, Political Party leaders and candidates are strongly enjoined to caution their followers to play politics by the rules and imbibe the spirit of politics without bitterness as this will go a long way in creating the enabling peaceful environment needed for the conduct of the General Election,” he said
He added that it is pertinent to note that the worst challenge facing the electoral process currently is the do-or-die attitude of political parties’ leaders which involve the use of different unlawful means to undermine the electoral process. The way desperate politicians used thugs to either disrupt elections or intimidate election officials in some polling units, RACs and Collation Centres during the last General Election assumed a very worrisome dimension and must not be allowed to happen again in Lagos State. The consequences of not getting this election right are too grief and should not even be contemplated.
