The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reaffirmed that the Bi-Modal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IREV) are critical tools for electoral transparency, not fraudulent schemes.
INEC’s Director of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Dr. Lawrence Bayode, clarified this during an interactive session organized by the commission on X (formerly Twitter) in Abuja.
Speaking on “BVAS and IREV: Facts and Myths,” Bayode emphasized that these technologies were introduced to enhance the credibility, transparency, and accuracy of Nigeria’s elections. He addressed misconceptions surrounding BVAS and IREV, stating that doubts stemmed from misinformation, technical issues, and general distrust in the electoral process.
“There is a belief that BVAS and IREV are scams. This misconception is incorrect,” Bayode said.
He explained that BVAS verifies voters using fingerprint and facial recognition, ensuring only accredited voters cast ballots. IREV, on the other hand, is an online platform that allows the public to view scanned polling unit results for transparency but does not count or collate votes.
Bayode dismissed concerns about technical failures, such as slow uploads or network downtimes, stressing that such challenges do not equate to fraud but highlight areas for improvement.
He also clarified that BVAS does not transmit election results directly. Instead, polling unit results are recorded on Form EC8A before being uploaded to IREV.
“BVAS significantly reduces voter impersonation and over-voting, but other electoral malpractices, such as violence and vote-buying, still require attention,” he noted.
INEC’s Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Victoria Eta-Messi, added that the commission was working with the National Assembly and stakeholders to amend the Electoral Act, particularly concerning election result management.
She reiterated INEC’s commitment to voter education, which aims to build public trust, reduce voter apathy, and ensure credible elections.
