The Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, have restated expressed his unalloyed support for the introduction of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) into the Nigerian electoral system.
Okowa, who is also the Vice Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), made this known on Wednesday at the opening of a two-day Extra-Ordinary General Assembly of the South-South Monarchs’ Forum held at DSP Alamieyeseigha Banquet Hall, Government House, Yenagoa, Bayelsa.
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He said such agitations amounted to pushing Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to disobey the Electoral Act.
He said that the use of BVAS and other devices to enhance e-election process in the country was contained in the Electoral Law, and that INEC would be committing an offence if it hearkened to the negative agitations.
He called on those against the use of the technology (BVAS) to eschew sentiments and join other Nigerians to support INEC in delivering free, fair and credible polls.
Okowa, who is also the Chairman of South-South Governors’ Forum, noted that Nigerians were governed by laws, explaining that the Electoral Act was quite explicit on the use of BVAS as far as the electoral process in the country was concerned.
He urged INEC to abide with all laws on election in the country and not to allow any selfish and unprogressive interest to derail it.
According to him, most Nigerians are unfortunately poor, such that their minds are easily dissuaded in the choices that they make, but we urge that they should make well-informed choices so as to move the country forward.
“The public needs to be properly educated and we thank INEC which had continued to try to educate the public concerning the elections.
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“We also thank the National Assembly and President Buhari for being able to sign the new Electoral Act that allows a process for a more likely credible election than we have had in the past,” Okowa.
Also speaking at the event, the Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, called on politicians and Nigerians in general to allow the electorate make their choices without molestation.
While advocating for constitutional role for monarchs as custodians of culture, he cautioned politicians against the use of youths for violence and called on all hands to be on deck to ensure a violence-free election.