The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it will work with relevant stakeholders to track campaign finances, vote buying, and other anomalies before, during, and after the general elections.
Mrs. Hauwa Kangiwa, INEC Administrative Secretary in Sokoto State, said this at a stakeholder meeting on Monday in Sokoto.
She assured that all updates and arrangements, identifications and invitations will be done to carry all collaborating agencies along.
The administrative secretary, however, disclosed that a total of 124,963 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) were yet to be claimed in the state.
She explained that 86,446 of the unclaimed PVCs were from 2019; 25,380 for those registered in 2021 and 13,137 for those that transferred their voting centres.
According to her, 148,446 new PVCs have been sent to the 23 local government areas for distribution.
Kangiwa told the stakeholders that the commission had received 3,991 units of Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) to be used during the 2023 general elections in the state.
According to her, the BVAS will be configured and assigned to polling units across the state.
She added that INEC staff members were being trained in effective handling of the BVAS ahead of the elections.
The administrative secretary assured that the commission was ready for the elections, and would continue to interface with different stakeholders, as part of its voter education programme.
“The commission is well prepared to conduct the 2023 general elections, the preparation will take the commission up to the day of elections and beyond.
“All departments and local government offices are working tirelessly to make sure that our constitutional duties are carried out effectively, ” Kangiwa said.
Mr. Ibrahim Abdullahi, chairman, Coalition of Non Governmental Organizations in Sokoto state, expressed fears that the “alarming” rate of vote buying may affect the outcome of the general elections.
He therefore urged INEC and security agencies to take decisive action to check the disturbing trend.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that presentations were made by personnel of the National Orientation Agency, Police, and Department of Security Services, as well as representative of political parties.
The stakeholders meeting was attended by political parties, the Army and other law enforcement agencies, civil society organisations, physically challenged persons, students and others.
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")
