The Independent National Electoral Commission has announced plans to conduct a mock voter accreditation exercise on September 10, 2024, as part of its preparations for the upcoming Edo State Governorship Election.
The election is slated for September 21, 2024.
The National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, announced on Tuesday.
The mock exercise is intended to test the deployment of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System and the electronic result upload process to the INEC Result Viewing portal.
The exercise will run from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on the designated day.
“In continuation of preparations for the Edo State Governorship Election held on Saturday, 21st September 2024, the Commission is test-running the deployment of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System and result upload to the INEC Result Viewing portal for the election using live voters in select locations in the State.
“The mock exercise will be held on Tuesday 10th September 2024 at the designated Polling Units from 8.30 am to 2.30 pm,” the statement read in part.
The trial will take place in 12 selected polling units across six Local Government Areas in Edo State, covering the three senatorial districts.
In Edo Central, the mock accreditation will be conducted at Eguare Primary School in Eguare 1 and Uwenujie Primary School in Uwenujie, both in Esan Central LGA. Additionally, Eguare Primary School 1 in Ewohimi and Eguare Okhuesan (formerly L.A. School 1) in Emu, located in Esan South East LGA, will serve as testing centers.
Edo North will see the exercise take place at Usokwi Iyogbe Azama Primary School in Yeluwa and the polling unit at Institute of Continuing Education Road in Auchi, both in Etsako West LGA. Uhonmwora Owere Primary School in Uhonmwora-Ora and Holy Trinity Grammar School in Sabongidda-Ora, Owan West LGA, have also been selected.
In Edo South, the designated polling units are Western Boys’ High School 1 and Ologbosere Primary School 1 in Ikpoba Okha LGA, along with Idia College I and Payne Primary School 1 in Oredo LGA.
Olumekun explained, “For this purpose, the Commission has designated 12 Polling Units across six Local Government Areas covering the three Senatorial Districts of the State as centres for the mock accreditation. In Edo Central, the exercise will take place in Eguare Primary School, Eguare 1, and Uwenujie Primary School, Uwenujie, in Esan Central LGA as well as Eguare Primary School 1, Ewohimi, and Eguare Okhuesan (Former L. A. School 1), Emu, in Esan South East LGA.
“In Edo North, Usokwi Iyogbe Azama Primary School, Yeluwa, and the polling unit at Institute of Continuing Education Road, Auchi, in Etsako West LGA are the designated centres while Uhonmwora Owere Primary School, Uhonmwora-Ora, and Holy Trinity Grammar School, Sabongidda-Ora, will serve as centres in Owan West LGA.
“In Edo South, Western Boys’ High School 1 and Ologbosere Primary School 1 are the designated centres in Ikpoba Okha LGA while Idia College I and Payne Primary School 1 will serve as centres for Oredo LGA.”
INEC urged registered voters in these polling units to participate by bringing their Permanent Voter Cards.
However, only voters registered at the specific polling units where the mock accreditation is being conducted will be allowed to participate.
“The Commission appeals to registered voters to come out with their Permanent Voter Cards for the exercise.
“Please note that only registered voters for the designated polling units are invited to participate in the exercise.
“No voter from another polling unit can be accredited by the BVAS,” he added.
