INEC Releases List Of 436 Polling Units For Mock Accreditation

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Saturday released the list of the 436 polling units across the country where it will hold a mock accreditation exercise scheduled for February 4.

The exercise is aimed at testing the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) ahead of the 2023 general elections.

The 436 polling units cut across 12 polling units in six Local Government Areas (two local government areas in each of the 109 Senatorial districts) and two Local Area Councils in the FCT.

The list of polling units for the exercise has been published on the commission’s official website.

Meanwhile, the collection of Permanent Voters Card which reverted back to the Commission’s offices at the local government level is expected to end nationwide on Sunday, January 29.

But there are strong indications that the commission may extend the exercise again to allow those who are yet to collect their cards to do so.

The Commission’s Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu gave the indication on Friday while speaking at a meeting with state Resident Electoral Commissioners from the 36 states and the FCT.

He said the Commission may consider other options to ensure that more Nigerians collect their PVC ahead of the February 25th Presidential and National Assembly election.

When asked what these options are, National Commissioner, Information and Voter Education, Barrister Festus Okoye told The Nation that the Commission would meet to take a decision on the next step.

In response to a WhatsApp message, Okoye said “the Commission is meeting at 10am (Saturday) to review the issues. A statement will be issued thereafter”.

At the time of this report, the statement was still being awaited from the commission.