The National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Kenneth Ukeagu, has emphatically stated that any vote not recorded in the Biometric Voter Accreditation System, BVAS will be disregarded.
Ukeagu conveyed this message concerning BVAS during a media interaction at the Afikpo North Local Government Area headquarters, the collation center for the Ebonyi South senatorial zone bye-election.
Despite emphasizing the significance of valid Biometric Voter Accreditation System records, he urged contestants from various political parties involved in the bye-election to uphold peace and order throughout the electoral process.
“With regards to this bye-election, we have cooperated with the provisions, I think the process is ongoing, and very soon, we will declare the winner.
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“At the end, I want to appeal to the contestants, and whatever they overcome, they should embrace peace,” he said.
Speaking on the alleged bypass of BVAS by agents during accreditation and voting in some polling units, especially in Ohaozara and Afikpo North LGAs, he said that the commission will apply the rules involved in BVAS.
According to him: “We have our rules and guidelines concerning the use of BVAS in the election. And in all elections, we applied the rules and guidelines, and if there such cases that it wasn’t used, the rules will be applied” he stressed.