…as INEC pressure-tests BVAS
By Nkechi Eze
Ahead of the February 21 Area Council elections in the Federal Capital Territory, the Independent National Electoral Commission has conducted a comprehensive mock accreditation exercise across Abuja, signalling its readiness to deliver a credible and technologically driven poll. The exercise, held on Saturday, was led by the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, who described the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS, as a fully refined “game changer” in safeguarding electoral integrity.
Accompanied by National Commissioners and the FCT Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof. Amupitan undertook an extensive tour of selected polling units, including NIPOST Area 10, Garki, Government Secondary School Wuse Zone 3, LEA Primary School Ushafa, and Sagwari Primary School in Dutse. The mock exercise was deliberately designed to stress-test the commission’s operational preparedness while evaluating the technical efficiency and reliability of the upgraded BVAS devices ahead of the actual election.
Speaking to journalists during the field assessment, the INEC Chairman explained that the commission was determined to identify and resolve any potential challenges long before election day. According to him, the mock exercise was aimed at ensuring that the real poll would not be used as a testing ground for new systems. He stressed that INEC’s primary focus was on the optimal performance of the BVAS, which he said had already demonstrated its capacity to transform the electoral process.
Prof. Amupitan expressed satisfaction with the speed and responsiveness of the devices, noting that voter accreditation was completed in five seconds or less in most cases. During a live simulation at one of the polling units, the BVAS successfully rejected a second attempt by the same voter to be accredited, clearly demonstrating its effectiveness in preventing double voting. He affirmed that with the current technology in place, it would be practically impossible for any voter to be accredited or vote more than once.
Beyond the functionality of the machines, the INEC Chairman also assessed the preparedness of election personnel. At the Government Secondary School in Area 10, he observed the ongoing intensive training of Supervising Presiding Officers, SPOs, describing human resource readiness as a critical component of a credible election. He further confirmed that non-sensitive election materials had already been deployed to the various Area Councils in the FCT, underscoring the commission’s commitment to early and efficient logistics planning.
Addressing concerns about possible network challenges, particularly in rural and hard-to-reach communities, Prof. Amupitan disclosed that INEC had strengthened its operational protocols and built in safeguards to mitigate connectivity issues. He explained that presiding officers now have provisions for personal hotspots to bypass internet disruptions, while the system itself is configured to automatically upload results to the INEC Results Viewing Portal, IReV, once a signal becomes available.
While expressing confidence in the technical outcome of the mock exercise, the INEC Chairman raised concerns over the low turnout recorded during the simulation. He called on political parties to intensify voter mobilisation efforts, stressing that while INEC has a responsibility to conduct civic education, it is not the commission’s role to campaign on behalf of political parties. He urged residents of the FCT to take the February 21 elections seriously, reminding them that active participation in the electoral process is essential to shaping their future.
Commenting on the ongoing debate in the Senate over the proposed removal of e-transmission from the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, Prof. Amupitan advised against generating unnecessary tension. He explained that the legislative process involves harmonisation between the Senate and the House of Representatives, and that a final position can only emerge after due process has been completed.
Overall, the mock accreditation exercise provided INEC with valuable insights into both its technological and operational readiness, reinforcing the commission’s assurance that it is fully prepared to deliver a credible, transparent and hitch-free Area Council election in the FCT.
