FCT polls: INEC chief declares BVAS “game changer” after successful mock acccreditation
INEC Conducts Successful BVAS Mock Accreditation Ahead of FCT Elections
By Omeiza Ajayi, ABUJA
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) conducted a mock accreditation exercise on Saturday in preparation for the February 21 Area Council elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan described the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) as a “game changer” for ensuring electoral integrity.
Accompanied by National Commissioners and the FCT Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Prof. Amupitan visited several polling units, including NIPOST in Area 10 Garki, Government Secondary School in Wuse Zone 3, LEA Primary School Ushafa, and Sagwari Primary School in Dutse. The exercise aimed to test the commission’s operational readiness and the technical functionality of the upgraded BVAS devices.
Prof. Amupitan emphasized the need to address any technical issues before the elections. “We don’t want to use the main election as a guinea pig,” he stated, highlighting that the primary focus of the exercise was the effectiveness of the BVAS.
During the mock simulation, the system demonstrated its efficiency, achieving voter accreditation in five seconds or less. It successfully prevented duplicate accreditation attempts, underscoring its potential to combat double voting. “With this technology, there is no way you can be accredited twice,” Prof. Amupitan asserted.
In addition to evaluating the technical aspects, the INEC chairman reviewed the training of Supervising Presiding Officers (SPOs) at the Government Secondary School. He confirmed the deployment of non-sensitive materials to the various Area Councils.
To address concerns about potential connectivity issues in rural areas, Prof. Amupitan noted that the commission has improved its operational protocols. He mentioned that provisions are in place for presiding officers to use personal hotspots to mitigate internet connectivity challenges.
The BVAS system is programmed to automatically upload election results to the INEC Results Viewing (IReV) portal when a signal is detected. Despite the positive technical outcomes, Prof. Amupitan expressed concern over the low turnout during the mock exercise and urged political parties to enhance their mobilization efforts.
“It is part of the responsibility of INEC to do civic education. But it is not the responsibility of INEC to campaign to people. It is the responsibility of the political parties,” he remarked, encouraging FCT residents to engage actively in the upcoming elections.
Regarding ongoing legislative discussions about the potential removal of e-transmission from the Electoral Act Amendment bill, Prof. Amupitan urged caution. He highlighted the need for collaboration between both houses of the National Assembly to finalize any changes to the legislation, aiming to minimize uncertainty surrounding the electoral process.
