BVAS won’t fail again, INEC assures Nigerians

• LASIEC, IFES partner to reduce voter apathy, promote election education
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it has identified challenges associated with its Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), assuring voters that henceforth the machine would work optimally during elections.

INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu stated this, yesterday, at the opening ceremony of a retreat organised for national commissioners in Lagos.

BVAS malfunction had characterised recent elections conducted by the umpire, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) area council elections held last month.

“May I seize this opportunity to reassure Nigerians that we have identified the challenges associated with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System during voter accreditation

“In the recent by-elections in six constituencies in four states of the federation, across four geo-political zones, the BVAS functioned optimally in rural, sub-urban and urban areas of Cross River, Imo, Ondo and Plateau States,” Yakubu said.

He said the commission did not receive complaints from voters regarding the technology and that observers in the by-elections did not report any glitches either.

He noted that the commission would continue to perfect the system in forthcoming by-elections and at the polls in Ekiti and Osun States.

MEANWHILE, International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) has commenced a three-day training for staff of the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) on improving voter participation during state and national elections.

Speaking during the ongoing training at the commission’s headquarters, LASIEC boss, Dr. Noah Lawal Jinadu, said the agency’s partnership with IFES is important in implementing a strategic plan to improve the conduct of elections in Lagos and strengthen the capacity of electoral staff.