BVAS Here to Stay: INEC Clarifies Supreme Court Ruling, Urges Voter Card Collection in Osun

BVAS Here to Stay: INEC Clarifies Supreme Court Ruling, Urges Voter Card Collection in Osun

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reaffirmed that the Biometric Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) remains central to Nigeria’s electoral process, dispelling misconceptions about its legal status.

Speaking to journalists in Osogbo, Osun State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. Mutiu Agboke, clarified that the Supreme Court never invalidated the use of BVAS in its ruling on the 2023 presidential election. He emphasized that BVAS is still the approved tool for voter accreditation and will be used in future elections, including those in 2027.

“The Supreme Court in its judgement did not overrule the application of the usage of BVAS, it only emphasised the fundamental of Voters’ register to anything that INEC wants to do. The commission has the power to deploy technology to deepen the process. Therefore, we can come up in 2027 with any kind of technology because we have the basis for it, which is the law,” he said.

Agboke urged the media to support INEC in educating citizens on the importance of not just registering but also collecting their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs). He expressed concern over the 360,794 uncollected PVCs in Osun State.

“We implore you to assist the commission in Osun State to mobilise the electorates to come out, not only to register for the PVC, but for the collection as well. Kindly note that in Osun State we have total number of 1,954,800 registered of voters and the sum of 360,794 PVC uncollected.”

He also called on the media to speak against electoral violence, vote buying, and other forms of electoral malpractice. Addressing concerns about technology failures during elections, Agboke acknowledged that technical glitches do occur, but said they do not compromise the integrity of the process if properly handled.

“It’s like when you are defending your PhD. It does not mean all the rubbish you’ve written, everything is correct… What happened was that the election was ongoing, a glitch in a simple dictionary terminology is an unforeseen incident… The one that we experienced was technological and we told you later that this was what happened…”

He described INEC as being in a difficult position, likening it to a referee caught between rival football clubs.

“INEC is a dangerous organization. Our position is like somebody standing in the middle of Man United and Arsenal or between Man United and Chelsea. That referee, how he’s going to survive, I don’t know.”

Agboke stressed that BVAS does not require internet connectivity for accreditation and debunked claims that lack of network can justify abandoning its use.

“BVAS does not work with network. It’s an offline machine during accreditation… So, anywhere network is required and what you experienced in Iwo is a manipulation. INEC has not instructed anybody to do that.”

He further noted that Osun has one of the highest statistics of Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) participating in elections and assured of adequate provisions for their inclusion.

“Osun State make use of the PWDs more than any other state so I want to assure you that we are going to make all the requirements available for them.”

On the issue of over-voting, Agboke explained that INEC follows a strict process to address it and that ballot units showing discrepancies are invalidated immediately.

“If the number of ballots in the box is more than the accredited voter, the law does not ask us to ask questions, you just put zero in that unit.”

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Addressing allegations of secret meetings or manipulation by the Commission, the REC denied any such incidents in Osun.

“Now the question of somebody having a meeting with INEC, I have no idea if there are two INECs in Osun State… In the INEC I’m superintending in Osun state, we’ve not held any meetings, no one has approached us and no one is talking to us to do any irregularities for this election.”

He assured residents that the commission remains committed to upholding the integrity of the electoral process and called on the public to verify information before spreading it.

“We are going to concentrate on the ball and do the right thing and ensure that Osun people’s mandate speaks for them… If you hear anything, call us, don’t join the bandwagon and spread fake news about the commission.”

INEC has reiterated its determination to improve transparency, deploy effective technology, and work closely with stakeholders in preparing for future elections.