The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC has announced that it is fully prepared to hold governorship election in 4,720 of the 4,758 polling units in Imo. According to INEC, the election would not take place in the remaining 38 polling Units where there are no registered voters.
On Thursday in Owerri, Mr. Ukeagu made the statement while presenting political parties with the official voter list. 17 political parties, according to Mr. Ukeagu, would run candidates in the election.
He explained that the publication of the official register of voters for the governorship election was in compliance with provisions of the Electoral Act (2022).
Mr. Ukeagu said INEC would organize mock accreditation in nine polling units spread across nine local government and registration areas in Imo’s three senatorial districts on Saturday using the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).
Mr. Ukeagu assured the Imo people that INEC had concluded arrangements to conduct a free, fair, credible, and inclusive governorship election, adding that the involved political parties, candidates, and supporters should desist from conflicts and other improper acts.
Mr. Ukeagu said, “The total number of registered voters for the election in Imo is 2,419,922, comprising 1,199,263 males and 1,220,659 females. INEC has cleared nine hurdles out of the 13 hurdles for clearing for the governorship elections in Imo, Kogi, and Bayelsa slated for the same day.
“The publication of the official register of voters is the 10th hurdle, and that is what we did on Thursday. The three remaining issues are the publication of the Notice of Poll, the declaration of the last day for campaigns by political parties, and the conduct of the election itself.
We are also making progress in critical areas of preparation for the election, including the provision of sensitive and non-sensitive materials and the recruitment of ad hoc staff. We are equally making progress in planning for the movement of personnel and materials for the election.
The exercise will enable INEC to test the functionality of the BVAs and accreditation process as part of preparation for the governorship election.”