INEC defends BVAS, IREV, Says Systems not scams

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reaffirmed that its Bi-Modal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IREV) are legitimate tools designed to improve election transparency, not scams.

INEC’s Director of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Dr. Lawrence Bayode, made this clarification during a discussion organized by the commission on X (formerly Twitter) in Abuja on Saturday.

Speaking on the topic “BVAS and IREV: Facts and Myths,” Bayode emphasized that both technologies were introduced to enhance the credibility, accuracy, and transparency of Nigeria’s electoral process.

He noted that misconceptions had created doubts about BVAS and IREV, leading to misinformation among the public.

“There is a belief that BVAS and IREV are scams. This misconception arises from misunderstandings, technical issues, and general distrust in the electoral process. However, this belief is incorrect,” he stated.

Bayode explained that BVAS plays a crucial role in voter accreditation by verifying voters using fingerprint and facial recognition technology, ensuring that only eligible individuals cast their ballots. Meanwhile, IREV serves as an online portal where scanned polling unit results are uploaded for public viewing, improving transparency.

He dismissed claims that technical failures, such as slow uploads, server downtimes, or network issues, equate to fraud. According to him, these are operational challenges that need improvement but do not indicate an attempt to manipulate elections.

“BVAS does not directly transmit election results. Instead, results are recorded on Form EC8A, which is then uploaded to IREV,” he clarified.

Bayode also addressed concerns about election disruptions due to BVAS malfunctions, stating that INEC has backup devices in place and, in rare cases, elections in affected polling units could be rescheduled.

He further emphasized that BVAS had significantly reduced voter impersonation and multiple voting, while IREV had improved public access to election results, making the process more transparent.

INEC’s Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Victoria Eta-Messi, added that the commission was working with the National Assembly and other stakeholders to amend the Electoral Act, particularly regarding the management of election results.

She also reiterated INEC’s commitment to voter education, stressing the importance of building public trust, reducing voter apathy, and ensuring credible elections.