* Assures of adequate security as 3508 BVAS deployed to Kogi.
The Independent National Election Commission INEC has disclosed that one million , six hundred voters who have collected their permanent voters cards would participate in the forthcoming general elections in Kogi state.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner, Rec, for Kogi state , Dr. Hale Gabriel Longpet made the disclosure in a media briefing held on Tuesday in Lokoja.
The INEC Commissioner said the commission had registered 1.9 million voters , but at the closure of the distribution exercise, only 1.6 million registrants actually collected their PVC who will be eligible to participate in the general elections.
He said the commission has successfully conducted twelve out of fourteen items of her mandates , adding that the commission is fully prepared to conduct free, fair and credible elections in the state.
He added that the aggressive awareness campaign on the importance of the pvc collection for the exercise of their franchise, the people responded with massive turn out for the pvc collection.
Longpet disclosed further that a total of 3508 with 282 back up Bimodal Verification Accreditation system BVAS were received by the state , saying although , 24 pieces were discovered to be defective, there were promptly repaired and are already in the vault of the commission in the state.
Reeling out the exercises that it has carried out preparatory to the polls, the REC said a mock poll was held in two Local Government Areas in each of the three senatorial Districts of the state.
According to Longpet, the aim of the mock exercise was to familiarise the personnel with the operation of BVAS and all other technology to be used by the commission.
He stressed that in the course of the mock exercise , it was discovered that some persons had problems with their finger prints as a result of fogging on their thumps.
” What we did was to apply mentholated spirit to soften their thumbs . We also apply special facial recognition in case the thump prints could not be done.
” We have recruited adhoc staff , trained NYSC members, supervisors, coordinators and collation officers so as to be abreast with the workings of BVAS and relevant activities within their schedules.
” The training became imperative for the personnel chain in the election management to take care of the unforseen circumstances that may occur during the polls” He stated.
While assuring the people of the readiness and preparedness of the commission to deliver free and fair, election said it has held series of meetings with heads of Security Agencies in the state and they have pledged their commitment to the success of the exercise.
