Politics
INEC Holds Mock Elections In Rivers, 11 Others, ’Morrow …Creates 35,000 Polling Units
Barring last minutes
change, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will tomorrow conduct mock voting sessions in 12 states of the federation to test-run the use of smart card readers, ahead of the March 28 and April 11 elections.
To this effect, the INEC chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega, has deployed all National Commissioners and Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) in 12 states for the mock elections.
Two states in each of the six geo-political zones of the country have been selected for the experimental voting exercise. They are: Ekiti and Lagos (South-West); Anambra and Ebonyi (South-East), Delta and Rivers (South-South); Kano and Kebbi (North-West); Bauchi and Taraba (North-East) and Niger and Nasarawa (North-Central).
Reports from INEC indicate that in each of the states selected for the mock election, some electoral wards with sizeable registered voters would be considered for the trial voting.
The essence of the mock elections, according to INEC, is to enable the commission ascertain the functionality of the card readers, with a view to making necessary adjustments before the March 28 Presidential and National Assembly elections.
It will be recalled that the use of the card readers has been vehemently opposed by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on the excuse that the device violates the nation’s electoral act which forbids electronic voting in the country.
A statement signed by the Head, Protocol and Publicity of INEC in Rivers State, Anthonia Nwobi, stated that the Registration Area Ward 1 Oromineke/Ezimgbu of Port Harcourt City Local Government Area (PHALGA) in Rivers State will be used for the conduct of the mock elections in the state.
Nwobi also disclosed that the trial voting will take place in all the 23 units of ward 1 and the 19 voting points.
She urged all the registered voters in ward 1 of PHALGA to come our enmasse for the field test exercise.
“The planned exercise, which has been slated for Saturday, March 7, 2015 will start from 8.00am and would be carried our by 188 trianed INEC staff. This clarification process will be the replica of election day where smart card readers and permanent voters cards are expected to be used for the accreditation exercise,” she said.
Meanwhile, INEC has created additional 35,000 polling units ahead of the rescheduled general elections, it was learnt yesterday.
There are 120,000 polling units in the country. Attempt by the commission to increase it to 150,000 was received with mixed reactions, forcing it to drop the idea initially.
The Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee of INEC, Dr Chris Iyimoga, who broke the news of additional polling points, argued that the essence was to allow for ease of voting process.
Boye Salau / Iragunima Benice / Midred Jaja
APC governorship candidate in Rivers State, Dr. Dakuku Peterside (right), addressing party supporters in Finima Community, during his ward rally in Bonny Local Government Area.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended the deadline for political parties to submit the list of candidates for the 2027 governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections from Saturday, August 8, to Tuesday, August 11, 2026.
The commission announced the extension in a statement issued on Saturday and signed by the National Commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna.
According to INEC, the decision followed appeals by political parties for additional time to complete the submission process through the dedicated online portal.
“The submission window, which according to the revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the General Election was originally scheduled to close on Saturday, 8th August, 2026, has been extended to Tuesday, 11th August, 2026,” the commission said.
In a a related development, INEC announced the suspension of PVC collection in Osun State ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
The commission said voters who applied for replacement of lost, damaged or defaced Permanent Voter Cards would have until midnight on Sunday, August 9, to print downloadable copies of their cards.
The electoral body explained that the deadline was necessary to enable it compile data on downloaded PVCs and produce final statistics on the total number of cards collected ahead of the election.
INEC said PVC collection in Osun commenced at the Registration Area level from July 22 to 28, 2026, but was extended to July 31 following complaints about large crowds and difficulties experienced by voters at collection centres.
The exercise subsequently moved to the local government level and ran from August 1 to 7.
The commission also disclosed that replacement downloadable PVCs had been made available to voters in Odo-Otin and Ife Central Local Government Areas following the theft of cards during attacks on the two collection centres.
It stressed that the stolen cards could not be used to vote.
INEC reassured Osun residents of its preparedness for the August 15 governorship election.
“The commission reiterates that the stolen cards cannot be used to vote.
“INEC reassures the people of Osun State of its readiness to conduct a free, fair, credible and inclusive governorship election on 15th August, 2026,” the statement said.
The commission said the deadline, initially set for Saturday, 8 August, has been extended to Tuesday, 11 August 2026, following appeals from political parties for more time.
INEC also announced that the window for voters who applied to replace lost, damaged or defaced PVCs to download their replacement cards will close at midnight on Sunday, 9 August.
The move is to enable the commission compile final PVC collection figures ahead of the 15 August Osun governorship election.
INEC said replacement downloadable PVCs have also been provided to affected voters in Odo-Otin and Ife Central Local Government Areas after hoodlums carted away cards from two collection centres, stressing that the stolen cards cannot be used to vote.
The commission reaffirmed its readiness to conduct a free, fair, credible and inclusive election in Osun State.
Gov. Kefas made the remarks over the weekend at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Jalingo, during the flag-off of the second phase of the Renewed Hope Medical Outreach in Taraba State, organised as part of activities marking Prof. Yilwatda’s 58th birthday.
The governor commended Prof. Yilwatda for choosing to mark his birthday by providing medical care to people in need.
“What Professor Nentawe did is a powerful demonstration of what leadership should be,” Gov. Kefas said.
He assured that his administration would continue to support initiatives that complement government efforts to improve healthcare delivery and the wellbeing of residents.
Speaking at the event, Prof. Yilwatda called on Nigerian leaders to embrace the culture of giving and use their positions to touch the lives of the less privileged.
He said his decision to celebrate his 58th birthday in Taraba State was deliberate and informed by the needs of underserved communities, particularly people who face difficulties accessing healthcare because of distance and financial constraints.
According to him, the intervention followed a needs assessment and was extended across the three senatorial districts of the state.
He said the exercise commenced on August 3 at Takum General Hospital and covered the Federal University Teaching Hospital, Wukari; First Referral Hospital, Sunkani, Ardo-Kola Local Government Area; General Hospital, Bali; General Hospital, Gembu; and FMC Jalingo.
Prof. Yilwatda said the intervention provided medical services to thousands of beneficiaries, including people who required surgical procedures.
He said sustainable national development could only be achieved when strong institutions placed Nigerians at the centre of development.
“Leadership is about service,” he said, urging political and public leaders to make giving back to society an important part of their responsibilities.
He reaffirmed his commitment to serving Nigeria and its people, saying his personal vision was to make every day of his life useful to humanity.
“Every day that I live, the vision is: let it be useful to humanity,” he said.
The Taraba State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Bordiya Buma, commended the initiative, saying it was consistent with the Renewed Hope agenda and efforts to strengthen healthcare delivery in the state.
Dr Buma said the second phase followed the successful completion of the first phase, which was conducted simultaneously in six local government areas, with two LGAs selected from each of the three senatorial districts.
According to him, more than 10,000 patients were attended to during the first phase, including people with medical and surgical conditions.
He disclosed that 327 general surgeries, 71 eye surgeries and 575 dental procedures were carried out during the exercise.
The commissioner expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for the Renewed Hope Medical Outreach and thanked Prof. Yilwatda for supporting the initiative and choosing Taraba State as a beneficiary.
The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, also commended Prof. Yilwatda for choosing Taraba State to mark his 58th birthday through a medical outreach.
Prof. Pate said making healthcare the centrepiece of the birthday celebration was significant because health affects everyone.