2023 General Elections Already A Walk Over With BVAS – Osun REC

—As JDPMC Organises Sensitisation Workshop For Stakeholders

The Osun State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission of Nigeria, Dr. Mutiu Agboke has reassured people of Osun particularly Nigerians that 2023 General Elections will be fair and credible as all votes would count contrary to the public usual innuendo of election pre-counting.

He stated this at a one-day capacity building workshop for state actors on promoting effective Service delivery ahead of the 2023 General Elections in Osun, Oyo and Ekiti States organized by the Justice Development and Peace Makers’Centre, Osogbo (JDPMC) under the component 6 of the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria-Phase II project.

Agboke stressed that with the advent of the BVAS in place it is practically impossible for anyone or institution to manipulate figures during the 2023 polls while assuring Nigerians that Independent National Electoral Commission would up her game and do everything within her to make sure in the forthcoming Elections technology is explored to the fullest.

“I must admit and align my belief with other stakeholders here present that technological advancement is the only mechanism to check electoral malpractice and ensure that all votes count come 2023 and that is why we introduced BVAS, you can see from outcome of Ekiti and Osun Guber Polls that BVAS is indeed a game changer for our electoral system. It is sure there may be a threat to it but be rest assured that INEC is on top of the game”, he concluded.

Speaking on the philosophy behind the workshop, the General Coordinator of the Justice, Development and Peace Makers’Centre, Osogbo Rev. Fr. Peter Akinkunmi noted that the idea was borne out of passion for democracy and urgent need to bring about Inclusiveness, public Participation by all stakeholders such as the youths; women and persons with disabilities most importantly credible election come 2023.

The workshop drew people from all walks of life like Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Securities and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), All Nigeria Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) and many more.