The Abia State Independent Electoral Commission (ABSIEC) has announced that the local government elections scheduled for November 2 will proceed without the use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), citing its “disappointing nature” as the primary reason for this decision.
Professor George Chima, the Chairman of ABSIEC, made this declaration on Saturday during the formal unveiling of the electoral timetable. He expressed, “We are aware of the issues associated with BVAS; hence, it will not be utilized for this election.”
Professor Chima reassured stakeholders that the electoral process would be conducted in a manner that is both free and transparent, emphasizing that the true will of the electorate in Abia will be accurately represented in the election results.
In addition, he noted that comprehensive security measures would be implemented to ensure the safety of the electoral process, affirming the preparedness of ABSIEC officials to perform their duties with integrity and competence.
The Chairman urged political parties and candidates to adhere strictly to the established regulations, warning that the upcoming local government election would not follow the usual practices of previous elections.
Furthermore, Professor Chima clarified that his office operates independently from the Abia State government, allaying concerns from opposition party members regarding the potential bias of the elections in favor of the ruling Labour Party (LP).
Despite these reassurances, several opposition party chairpersons present at the event requested a slight postponement of the election date to allow for better preparation.
