The Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) has received a Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), an electronic device designed to read Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and authenticate voters.
Plateau INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Oliver Agundu announced in Jos on Friday, declaring open INEC engagement with identified Plateau youth groups ahead of the 2023 general elections.
Agundu stated that INEC received the machines for the total number of polling units in Plateau during the general elections next year on Thursday.
The delivery of the machines signifies the absolute and early preparedness of INEC to conduct the 2023 general elections without hitches as planned by the commission.
It is expected that in the coming days, the state office will carry out performance checks on each of the units received, to ascertain their respective functionality status before they are finally kept securely for usage at the general election next year.
With this delivery, Plateau has joined the league of states that have so far received their share of BVAS which is generally described as a game changer in the evolution of Nigeria’s Electoral system, he said.
He explained that engaging with identified youth groups was critical due to youths’ sensitive and strategic roles in the election’s success or failure.
Agundu described youths as a critical component of society that could not be overlooked.
Thousands of young people, he said, would be hired as ad hoc staff for the 2023 general elections.
“This programme is targeted at engaging with youth groups on the role of youth in preparation of next year elections; the platform is an opportunity that will be mutually enriching,” he stated.
The INEC National Commissioner, Prof. Sani Adams, solicited the support of youths and urged them to keep making positive contributions for the success of the 2023 elections.
Adams, represented by Deputy Director Civil Society Organizations’ Division, INEC Headquarters, Abuja, also stated that it was everyone’s duty and responsibility, particularly the youth, to ensure peaceful elections.
Dr. Vincent Kabuk of the University of Jos described youths as the vanguard of meaningful social change in his paper.
Kabuk stated that no one who cares about their country would take people in that age group for granted.
“This group undoubtedly determines the wave of power dynamics,” he said.