INEC: We Expect Improved Performance of BVAS, IReV in Bayelsa, Imo, Kogi Guber Polls

•Removes Sylva’s name in amended list of candidates 

•APC kicks, says delisting former minister’s name from Bayelsa governorship list premature

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday, said it was looking forward to improved performance of its Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and result upload on INEC Result Viewing (IReV) in the forthcoming governorship elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi states scheduled to hold on November 11.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, stated this in Abuja at the quarterly consultative meeting with civil society organisations (CSOs).

He said the Commission had accredited 145 organisations deploying 7,896 observers for the off cycle elections taking place in the three states.

The INEC chairman noted that in the next few days, accredited organisations would be invited to collect identity cards for their observers.

Yakubu stated: “As you are aware, the Commission conducted a mock accreditation involving actual voters in designated polling units in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi States two weeks ago.

“By doing so, we tested the efficacy of the BVAS for both biometric authentication of voters and the upload of results to the IReV. Some of you observed the mock accreditation exercise and viewed the results on the IReV portal.

“We have received no adverse report so far. By this, we are encouraged that the test was successful, and we look forward to improved performance of the BVAS in voter accreditation and result upload in the forthcoming Governorship elections and beyond.”

The electoral body noted that the Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi governorship elections were critical to the Commission.

Meanwhile, the Commission has released amended lists of candidates for off cycle governorship elections.

The amended list uploaded on the commission’s website on Tuesday, indicated that the name of Timipre Sylva and his running mate, Joshua Maciver of the All Progressives Congress (APC), were not included for the Bayelsa election.

In the list signed by the Secretary to the Commission, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, the Commission cited court order as the reason for removing Sylva’s name from the amended list.

Also, for the Imo governorship election, the commission included the names of Uchechukwu Ishiodu as governorship candidate and Ahumbe Chiazor as the running mate, for Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) for the state election.

In the meantime, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has called on INEC to withdraw its amendment lists of candidates for the Bayelsa governorship election, due to its removal of Sylva and his running mate, Joshua Maciver from the list of candidates for the Bayelsa election.

The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Felix Morka, in a statement issued yesterday, said the action by INEC might not be unconnected with the High Court judgement of October 9, 2023 which disqualified Sylva as the candidate of the party.

The ruling party stressed that its candidate and party promptly appealed the judgment and brought other processes seeking stay of the judgment’s execution.

Morka, added that recognising the extreme urgency of the matter, the Court of Appeal granted an order of accelerated hearing of the matter now fixed for definite hearing on Friday October 27, 2023, stressing that INEC was a party in the matter and had been served with all relevant filings and orders in this matter.

He insisted that removing the party’s candidate from the list of governorship contestants  in Bayelsa would foist a situation of helplessness on the appellate court, the candidate and APC should the  appeal succeed.

The ruling party noted that delisting the party’s candidate, in the circumstances, as INEC has done, was clearly premature, and preempts the outcome of the valid appeal in the matter.

Morka noted: “The attention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been drawn to the updated list of gubernatorial candidates for the November 11 governorship election in Bayelsa State by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which excluded the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate’s name, Chief Timipre Sylva.

“Delisting our candidate, in the circumstances, as INEC has done, is clearly premature, and preempts the outcome of the valid appeal in the matter. This flies in the face of INEC’s established practice of awaiting the decisions of appellate courts before taking action that may be prejudicial to the interest of the appellants.

“Furthermore, removing our candidate from the list of governorship contestants  in Bayelsa would foist a situation of helplessness on the appellate court, the Candidate and our Party should the  appeal succeed. We urge INEC to withdraw its amendment under reference in the interest of fairness.

“In the meantime, we appeal to the good people of Bayelsa State, especially our teeming members and supporters, to remain calm while the judicial process runs its full course. We have confidence that our candidate will be victorious both at the Court of Appeal and at the polls.”