Ebonyi: INEC Distributes Sensitive Materials, Assures Optimum BVAS Performance

From Nwogha Ndubuisi, Abakaliki

Ahead of the 18th March governorship and House of Assembly elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in Ebonyi state on Thursday commenced the distribution of sensitive and non sensitive materials. The commission, however pledged optimum performance of the Bio-modal Verification Accreditation System (BVAS).

Speaking to newsmen, the State Residential Electoral Commissioner, REC, Mrs Onyeka Ugochi, at Central Bank of Nigeria office in Abakaliki, explained that the commission is prepared to ensure that the exercise is transparent and free of any hitches. She blamed what transpired during the 25th February election in the state to report of areas that's vulnerable, making officials moving to polling units late. The state Resident Commissioner further assured that election results must be transmitted at the Local Government Areas.

However, the All Progressives Congress, APC, Secretary, Hon. Chukwuma Ofoke, and his counterpart in Peoples Democratic Party, Acting chairman, Barr Ifeanyi Nworie commended the electoral umpire for their proactive measures and high level of transparency in the distributions of the materials. They appealed to the Commission to improve in their timely arrival of sensitive materials, hence, called on INEC ward collection Officers to endeavour to be at the collection centers where they collect original results from the polling units instead of dishing instructions from their state offices. Also, the representative of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, and former Senatorial candidate, Ebonyi Central zone, Mr Emmanuel Onwe called on the voters not to be deterred by the shrewd attitude of INEC in the past election but come out en mass and exercise their franchise.