.jpeg "Imo will have 4,720 voting places for the November governorship election, according to INEC.")
According to Mr. Ken Ukeagu, the Supervising National Electoral Commissioner in Imo, it has been determined that the election would not take place in the remaining 38 polling units where the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reported zero registered voters.
The remark was made during the formal presentation of the official voter registration to political parties on Thursday in Owerri.
According to Ukeagu, it has been stated that a total of 17 political parties are expected to nominate candidates for the upcoming election.
The election in Imo had a total of 2,419,922 registered voters, with 1,199,263 being men and 1,220,659 being females.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has successfully overcome nine out of the thirteen obstacles required for the clearance process of the upcoming gubernatorial elections in Imo, Kogi, and Bayelsa, all of which are scheduled to take place on the same day.
On Thursday, we successfully completed the task of publishing the official register of voters, which can be considered the tenth obstacle in the process.
According to Ukeagu, the three outstanding matters pertain to the publication of the Notice of Poll, the declaration of the final day for political party campaigns, and the execution of the election itself.
The individual provided an explanation that the release of the official register of voters for the gubernatorial election was carried out in accordance with the stipulations outlined in the Electoral Act (2022).
Significant advancements are being made in crucial aspects of election preparedness, including the procurement of both sensitive and non-sensitive supplies, as well as the enlistment of ad-hoc personnel.
The speaker further stated that there is equal advancement in the planning process for the transportation of both personnel and supplies pertaining to the election.
According to Ukeagu, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is scheduled to conduct a simulated accreditation exercise in nine polling units situated across nine local government and registration areas within Imo State's three senatorial districts. This exercise will take place on Saturday and will utilize the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), as stated by Ukeagu.
"The purpose of the exercise is to allow the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to assess the operational effectiveness of the Biometric Voter Authentication (BVA) devices and the accreditation process in anticipation of the upcoming governorship election," he clarified.
Ukeagu provided reassurance to the residents of Imo state that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has made necessary preparations to ensure the forthcoming governorship election is conducted in a manner that upholds principles of fairness, transparency, credibility, and inclusivity.
The speaker emphasized the importance of political parties, candidates, and their followers refraining from engaging in violence, voter intimidation, and any kind of malpractice throughout the electoral process.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Imo, Prof. Sylvia Agu, emphasized the need of publishing the official register of voters as a crucial component of the election.
Agu emphasized the importance of collaboration and mutual respect among all stakeholders in order to foster a thriving democracy as we continue with the forthcoming election-related activities.