INEC to conduct mock accreditation in Cross River Aug. 4

By Sixtus Uket (Calabar)

As part of the preparations for the 2023, general elections in the country, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Cross River has scheduled to conduct mock accreditation with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).

The Head of Voter Education and Publicity (VEP) of INEC in the State, Mrs.  Anthonia Nwobi, who made this known in a statement in Calabar, the State capital said the exercise is in furtherance of the technical evaluation of the device.

“Recall that the Commission successfully carried out the first technical evaluation of about 3281 pieces of BVAS delivered to the Commission in Cross River State to ascertain the viabilities of both hard and software between January 4th to January 11th 2023.

“The mock accreditation exercise which will hold in the 12 Selected Polling Units across three Senatorial Districts and six local government areas (LGAs) as shown in the schedule attached is therefore a step further in ascertaining its functionality in the field,” Mrs. Nwobi said.

She explained that the exercise would commence at 8:00am and close by 2:00pm on Saturday, 4th February 2023.

“Only registered voters with the Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in the respective Polling Units are eligible to participate in the mock accreditation.

The Commission appealed to the people of Cross River, particularly the participating registered voters to abide by the instructions of officials deployed for the exercise for a successful outcome.

“The Commission further appeals for peaceful and orderly conduct in and around the period of the mock accreditation exercise, while also assuring that the outcome of the exercise will be shared with the public,” she added.

She enumerated the affected polling units in the six local government areas of the three Senatorial District of the State to include, Obudu and Ogoja local government areas in the Northern Senatorial District, while Ikom and Boki local government areas are selected in the Central Senatorial District.

Similarly, Calabar municipality and Bakassi local government areas are to host the exercise in the Southern Senatorial zone.

A breakdown of the units showed that the exercise would hold at Community Secondary School Ofambe Polling Unit 029 (Alege/Ubang Ward 01) and Obudu Main Motor Park Polling Unit 024 (Urban 1Ward 05), while in Ogoja, it would at St. Ben’s Primary School Polling Unit 014 (Ogoja Urban Ward 09) and Primary School, Egbe 1 Polling Unit 004 (Mbube East 11 Ward).

In Ikom, it would be conducted at Mgbagatiti Play Ground Polling Unit 001 (Ikom Urban Ward 3) and Community Secondary School Okuni Polling Unit 010 (Olulumo Ward 10), while in Boki, it would be held at Playground Kayang 1 Polling Unit 001 (Bike Ward 4) and Postal Agency Okunde Polling Unit 010 (Ogep/Osopon Ward 10)

Similarly, in Calabar Municipality, it would be conducted at PCN Primary School Polling Unit 001 (Ward 1) and Ishie Primary School Polling Unit 012 (Ward 6).

In Bakassi the mock accreditation will hold at Playground Akwa Town Polling Unit 001 (Ward 3) and Playground Ndok/Ekpe Polling Unit 001 (Amba/Ekpa Ward 04).