By Chukwudi Nweje
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed it has taken delivery of the last consignment of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines for the 2023 general election.
Its National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, disclosed this, yesterday, in a statement, saying four hubs had been created in Abuja, Kano, Lagos, and Port Harcourt airports to facilitate the smooth delivery of the machines across the 36 states of the federation.
He said: “In furtherance of the preparations for the 2023 general election, the commission, yesterday, January 3, 2023, received the last consignment of BVAS machines with 52 days to the election.
“The commission’s Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, national commissioners and senior officials of the commission were at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, to receive the BVAS. Officials of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) and airport security officials were at the airport to receive the INEC team.”
Okoye said the commission had, in the last four months, been delivering BVAS machines across the 36 states and added that with the last consignment of the machines, INEC is equipped to conduct the elections.
“Over the last four months, several flights delivered the BVAS to the designated airports for movement to states of the federation ahead of the elections. With the arrival of the last flight in Abuja, yesterday (Tuesday), the commission has now taken delivery of the required number of the BVAS for all the polling units in the country and extra machines in line with our contingency provisions for all critical election materials,” he said.. statement.
He commended Nigerians supporting the commission in its effort to deliver free, fair, and credible 2023 election.
