INEC targets improved BVAS performance in Kogi, Bayelsa, Imo polls

By : Sodiq Omolaoye, Abuja

Date: 25 October 2023 5:55pm WAT

Chairman INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu and Members of the Commission in a Meeting with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) on the review of the 2023 General Election at the Commission’s conference room, Abuja... PHOTO: Twitter/INECNigeria

An Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) official uses a Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) to check the details of a voter at a polling station in Maiduguri on February 25, 2023, during Nigeria’s presidential and general election. (Photo by Audu MARTE / AFP)

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Wednesday, expressed confidence that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) will work better during the November 11, 2023 governorship polls in Imo, Bayelsa, and Kogi states.

The BVAS is used for both biometric authentication of voters and the upload of results to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV).

INEC chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, who stated this at a meeting with Civil Society Organisation said election in the three states was critical to the commission.

He said about 145 organisations deploying 7,896 observers have been accredited by the commission for the three elections

The INEC boss described the election as a multi-stakeholder activity, saying, “In discharging our responsibilities, we will continue to engage with all stakeholders. One of such engagements is with the security agencies.

“In previous elections, civil society organisations have expressed concern about the safety of persons involved in elections as well as the protection of the process, including polling units and collation centres.

“Similarly, civil society organisations have on several occasions urged the commission to intercede with the security agencies to grant you unimpeded access to voting and collation locations.

“I want to reassure you that we will continue to do so as we engage with the security agencies both at the national level and in the three States. At the same time, I wish to remind all accredited observers to strictly adhere to the code of conduct for election observation.

He added: “As you are aware, the commission conducted a mock accreditation involving actual voters in designated polling units in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi states two weeks ago

“By doing so, we tested the efficacy of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) for both biometric authentication of voters and the upload of results to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV).

“Some of you observed the mock accreditation exercise and viewed the results on the IReV portal. We have received no adverse report so far.

“By this, we are encouraged that the test was successful, and we look forward to improved performance of the BVAS in voter accreditation and result upload in the forthcoming Governorship elections and beyond.”

He disclosed that the commission will soon make public its report on the conduct of the 2023 general election.
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