The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, says it is committed to the deployment of the Bimodal Voter Registration System, BVAS, for the 2023 elections.
This is according INEC Commissioner for Information and Voter
Education, Festus Okoye.
BVAS is a device introduced by INEC which allows for accreditation of
voters through biometrics capturing, uploading of polling results and
other functions.
Stakeholders have described BVAS as an upgrade of the smartcard
reader, which was used in the 2019 elections, and a game changer in the
country’s electoral process.
Recently, some reports emerged on social media claiming that a lawsuit
has been instituted before the Federal High Court in Owerri, Imo state,
seeking to stop INEC from using BVAS for the 2023 elections.
Reacting to the development, Okoye said the use of BVAS for elections
in the country is stipulated in the Electoral Act of 2022 adding that the
commission is not scared of any legal action which may seek to
challenge the legality of the use of BVAS.
He also said that Nigerians have accepted the use of BVAS and that the
commission will not relent on its commitment to improve the electoral
process via technology.
