By CHARLES IWUOHA

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Tuesday said that it will hold mock accreditation of voters on September 10, 2024, ahead of Edo State governorship election scheduled for September 21, 2024.

The Commission revealed that it has designated 12 Polling Units across six Local Government Areas (LGAs) covering the three Senatorial Districts of the State as centres for the mock accreditation.

It, therefore, appealed to registered voters to come out with their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) for the exercise.

The electoral body emphasized that only registered voters for the designated polling units are invited to participate in the exercise.

This was contained in a statement issued by INEC’S National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun in Abuja.

He said: “In continuation of preparations for the Edo State Governorship Election holding on Saturday 21stSeptember 2024, the Commission is test running the deployment of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and result upload to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal for the election using live voters in select locations in the State.”

Olumekun added that in Edo Central, the exercise would take place in Eguare Primary School, Eguare 1, and Uwenujie Primary School, Uwenujie, in Esan Central LGA as well as Eguare Primary School 1, Ewohimi, and Eguare Okhuesan (Former L. A. School 1), Emu, in Esan Southeast LGA.

He added that in Edo North, Usokwi Iyogbe Azama Primary School, Yeluwa, and the polling unit at Institute of Continuing Education Road, Auchi, in Etsako West LGA are the designated centres while Uhonmwora Owere Primary School, Uhonmwora-Ora, and Holy Trinity Grammar School, Sabongidda-Ora, will serve as centres in Owan West LGA.

The National Commissioner noted that in Edo South, Western Boys’ High School 1 and Ologbosere Primary School 1 are the designated centres in Ikpoba Okha LGA while Idia College I and Payne Primary School 1 would serve as centres for Oredo LGA.

Olumekun said: “The mock exercise will be held on Tuesday 10thSeptember 2024 at the designated Polling Units from 8.30am to 2.30pm.

“A graphic image containing the names and locations of the centres has been uploaded to our website and social media platforms.