The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced plans to hold a mock accreditation exercise in Anambra State to test the upgraded Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) ahead of the November governorship election.
In a statement issued on Saturday by Victoria Eta-Messi, Director of Voter Education and Publicity, INEC confirmed that the exercise will take place on Saturday, 25 October, at selected polling units across the state’s three senatorial districts.
The commission explained that the mock exercise is designed to assess the BVAS device’s response time and the efficiency of result uploads on the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal.
“The mock accreditation exercise will enable INEC to evaluate the upgraded Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), measure its response speed, and test the uploading of results on the INEC Result Viewing Portal ahead of the main election,” the statement read.
Polling units chosen for the exercise are located in Awka South, Idemili North, Oyi, Anambra East, Aguata, and Orumba North local government areas.
INEC urged voters in these areas to participate actively, noting that their involvement is essential for refining the commission’s operational and technological systems before the election.
The commission also announced that the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) for newly registered voters in Anambra State will commence on Wednesday, 22 October, and end on Sunday, 26 October.
Voters who registered during the recent Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise are required to collect their PVCs from the registration centres where they initially enrolled.
INEC stressed that PVC collection is strictly personal and warned that proxy collection will not be allowed under any circumstances.
“All registered voters are strongly encouraged to collect their PVCs within the specified period to ensure they are eligible to vote in the forthcoming Anambra governorship election,” the statement added.
The commission reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, operational efficiency, and maintaining public confidence as preparations for the 2025 Anambra governorship election continue.