Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Mahood Yakubu has reiterated that the use of technological devices for the upcoming 2023 general election promises to make the election credible as he also assured Nigerians that the commission will play fair with all political parties.
He made this known during the 4th Abubakar Momoh Memorial Lecture organized by The Electoral Institute (TEI) in Abuja.
According to the chairman, the signing of the 2022 Electoral Act Amendment Bill into law, the 2022 Electoral Act (“the new Act”) repeals the Electoral Act No. 6, 2010 (“the former Act”) by President Muhammadu Buhari is intended to bring innovations to the processes and procedures for the conduct of Elections in line with the mandate of the Commission.
He stated that it is imperative for all stakeholders especially the Political parties to note the major features introduced by the new Electoral Act 2022 and the possible implications of these changes on the upcoming elections.
“Let me draw your attention to the fact that the use of electronic devices such as the Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS), INEC Voter Enrolment Device (IVED), INEC Results Viewing Portal (IRev) and other technological devices, are now legally allowed in the accreditation process for voters, collation of results and in the general conduct of elections”.
“Please be assured that these innovations are intended to deepen the Electoral Process in our Country and their optimal performance in the just concluded gubernatorial election in Ekiti and Osun States is an eloquent testimony to their electoral value. We shall only do more to consolidate their deployment in our election”, he added.
He also assured the nation that, the commission has no preferred political party as it promises to play fair as an umpire.
“I wish to assure you that INEC has no preferred party or candidate. We shall only ensure that all valid votes count and the winners are decided solely by the voters”, he said.
Prof. Yakubu said the Prof. Abubakar Momoh memorial lecture was a platform established by the Commission to project the ideals of a social activist and an advocate of citizen’s involvement in elections and nation building.
