Ahead of the Saturday, August 16 bye-election in Ibadan North Federal Constituency, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Oyo State, will deploy 2,062 poll officials and 574 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines for the conduct of the poll.

The electoral commission also facilitated the signing of the Peace Accord by all the contestants for the seat at an event held at the Collaboration Centre of the Commission, Agodi, Ibadan.

Speaking at a press briefing held shortly after the official signing of the Peace Accord, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), INEC, Oyo State, Dr Adeniran Rahmon Tella, disclosed that 512 Polling Units with 272,196 registered voters are expected to participate in the bye-election.

Tella noted that about 217,980 people have so far collected their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

The REC disclosed that the commission has configured a total number of 526 Bimodal Verification Accreditation System (BVAS) machines with additional back-ups of 48 BVAS Machines for the upcoming election.

He disclosed that the election will be conducted across 12 Registration Areas/Wards and would affect border areas, including Sango/Eleyele/Apete/Ijokodo, Beere/Oje/Odoye, Mokola Axis/Adamasingba Axis, UI/Agbowo/Agbowo Express, and Gate/Basorun/Ashi.

The Oyo REC said, “There will also be restriction on movement in 12 Registration Areas/ Wards in Ibadan North Federal Constituency which are: Ward I (Islamic Mission Primary School, Odoye) Ward II (St Stephen Primary School, Inalende), Ward III (Salvation Army Primary School Yemetu), Ward IV (Methodist Primary School, NTA), Ward V (Ikolaba High School, Ikolaba), Ward VI (St Gabriel Grammar School, Mokola), Ward VII (St Louis Grammar School, Mokola), Ward VIll (Chesire High School, Ijokodo), Ward IX (C&S New Eden Primary School, Mokola), Ward X (Immanuel College Primary School, Samonda) and Ward XII which is (Methodist Primary School, Bodija) respectively.

“There are 512 Polling Units with 272, 196 registered voters expected to participate in the upcoming Bye-Election. However, about 217,980 have so far collected their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs). A total of 2,062 Poll Officials will be employed for the coming election.

“The commission has configured a total number of 526 Bimodal Verification Accreditation System (BVAS) Machines with additional back-ups of 48 BVAS Machines for the upcoming election. All these are expected to be activated on the day of the election.

“In other words, the use of technology will be deployed through the use of the BVAS Machine and INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) for uploading of results on Election Day.

“We have been engaging the Transport Union in the State on our Vehicular needs for the election. We have activated and domesticated the existing Memorandum of Understanding between the Commission and the Transport Union with the aim of meeting the needs of the commission in the upcoming election.

“In the light of the above, adequate vehicles will be provided for the movement of Polls Officials and materials with Security personnel to Registration Area Centres (RACS) on the eve of the election and from the RACs to Polling Units on Election Day.”