The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, has said it is mandatory to deploy smart card readers in the prosecution of the November 16 governorship elections in Bayelsa and Kogi states.

This was confirmed in a series of tweets via the commission’s verified Twitter handle @inecnigeria, which also indicated that Yakubu stated this at the stakeholders meeting in Yenagoa, Thursday.

The meeting also featured the signing of Peace Accord by stakeholders in the presence of the Chairman Traditional Rulers Council of Bayelsa State, King Alfred Diete Spiff; and representative of the Christian Association of Nigeria and that of the Chief Imam.

“The Smart Card Readers have been configured and will be added to other sensitive materials and delivered together. Once again, let me reiterate that it is mandatory to use the SCRs for voter accreditation and authentication.”

Meanwhile, the commission has said sensitive materials for the November 16 governorship election in Bayelsa State are ready for delivery.

The commission said the normal process of inspection and distribution within the state will be done in the presence of party agents, security agencies, observers and the media.

The verified tweeter handle also contained this information as the chairman was quoted to have said that the Central Bank of Nigeria will deliver the electoral materials to Bayelsa state “this weekend.”

Yakubu noted that INEC had delivered all non-sensitive materials to its Bayelsa state office in Yenagoa long ago.

“They have all been sorted out, categorised and batched, ready to be delivered to the LGAs, Wards and polling units.

“The Resident Electoral Commissioner for Bayelsa state will give the date and time for the inspection and the itinerary for deployment, in line with the Commission’s standard practice for the inspection and movement of sensitive materials,” Yakubu added.