By Musa Baba Adamu
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has unveiled extensive preparations for the June 20 Nasarawa North Senatorial District bye-election, with more than 300,000 registered voters expected to participate in the poll.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ sensitization meeting in Akwanga on Thursday, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Nasarawa State, Mohammed Abubakar-Sadiq, said the commission had concluded arrangements to ensure a transparent, peaceful and credible election.
According to him, the bye-election, necessitated by the death of Senator Godiya Akwashiki, will be conducted across 583 polling units located in Akwanga, Nassarawa Eggon and Wamba Local Government Areas.
Abubakar-Sadiq disclosed that voting would commence at 8:30 a.m. and end at 2:30 p.m., while voters already on queue before the closing time would still be allowed to cast their ballots.
To strengthen the integrity of the electoral process, the REC said INEC would deploy the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) for voter verification through fingerprint and facial recognition technology.
“There is no voting by proxy. Anyone without a PVC has no business at the polling unit. The BVAS will authenticate every voter to ensure that only legitimate cardholders participate in the election,” he said.
He further explained that election results would be transmitted electronically from polling units through BVAS to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), while hard copies would be distributed to party agents and displayed publicly using Form EC60E to promote transparency.
The REC warned against electoral malpractice, stressing that impersonation and other offences would attract arrest and prosecution.
As part of logistics arrangements, members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) will serve as ad hoc election officials, while personnel and sensitive materials will be deployed to the district’s 35 registration areas on the eve of the poll.
Abubakar-Sadiq also called on traditional rulers, religious leaders and other stakeholders to mobilise eligible voters and encourage peaceful participation in the election.
Meanwhile, security agencies have assured residents of adequate protection before, during and after the exercise.
Representing security agencies, Area Commander for Akwanga, Nassarawa Eggon and Wamba LGAs, Assistant Commissioner of Police Rasheed Alli, pledged professionalism and neutrality in the discharge of security duties.
“We want to assure all stakeholders that we are equal to the task and will provide the necessary security for the conduct of a peaceful and credible bye-election,” Alli said.
Also speaking, the Chun Mada, Samson Gamu-Yare, represented by the District Head of Akwanga, Anthony Yamusa, commended INEC for engaging stakeholders ahead of the election and pledged the support of traditional institutions in mobilising residents and promoting peaceful conduct.
The sensitization exercise was also extended to Wamba and Nassarawa Eggon Local Government Areas, drawing participation from political parties, security agencies, civil society organizations, religious groups, transport unions and traditional institutions.
