The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has indicated readiness to will work with relevant stakeholders to track campaign finances, vote buying and other anomalies before, during and after the general elections.
INEC Administrative Secretary in Sokoto State, Mrs. Hauwa Kangiwa, at a stakeholders meeting on Monday in Sokoto, assured that all updates and arrangements, identifications and invitations will be done to carry all collaborating agencies along.
The administrative secretary, however, disclosed that a total of
124,963 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) were yet to be collected in the state.
She explained that 86,446 of the unclaimed PVCs were from 2019; 25,380 for those registered in 2021 and 13,137 for those that transferred their voting centres.
According to her, 148,446 new PVCs have been sent to the 23 local government areas for distribution.
Kangiwa told the stakeholders that the commission had received 3,991 units of Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) to be used during the 2023 general elections in the state.
According to her, the BVAS will be configured and assigned to polling units across the state.
She added that INEC staff members were being trained in effective handling of the BVAS ahead of the elections.
The administrative secretary assured that the commission was ready for the elections, and would continue to interface with different stakeholders, as part of its voter education programme.
“The commission is well prepared to conduct the 2023 general elections, the preparation will take the commission up to the day of elections and beyond.
”All departments and local government offices are working tirelessly to make sure that our constitutional duties are carried out effectively, ” Kangiwa said.
Mr Ibrahim Abdullahi, Chairman, Coalition of Non-Governmental Organizations in Sokoto state, expressed fears that the “alarming” rate of vote buying may affect the outcome of the general elections.
He therefore urged INEC and security agencies to take decisive action to check the disturbing trend.
Participants at the stakeholders meeting included political parties, the Army, Police, and Department of Security Services, and other law enforcement agencies, civil society organisations, physically challenged persons, students as well as personnel of the National Orientation Agency.