A former National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Barrister Festus Okoye, warned that mistakes, confusion over election procedures, and mishandling of result sheets could hurt the credibility of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
Okoye shared these concerns at a training workshop on election coverage where he pointed out that errors by election officials, especially when using election technology or filling out result sheets, could cause problems that might affect the election process.
He also talked about the laws that guide how results are sent and collected, explained what the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Election Results Viewing Portal (IReV) do, and described the difference between electronic results uploaded online and the paper documents used to collect and announce election results.
When asked why INEC invested in BVAS and IReV even though the portal results are not the main basis for collecting and announcing results, Okoye explained that BVAS has several roles at different points in the election process.
He said the device was first used for voter registration, then for identifying and accrediting voters on election day. After voting, it is also used to upload results from each polling unit.
“It’s what I call a multifunctional gadget. It’s a multifunctional gadget. During voter registration, that is what we use,” he said.
He explained that during voter registration, the device is called the INEC Voter Enrolment Device. On election day, it is used for identifying, verifying, and accrediting voters.
“On election day, we call it the BVAS. We use it for voter identification and verification. That is what we use in capturing fingerprints and capturing the facials,” he said.
He explained that the technology has stopped impersonation, double voting, and multiple voting. He also mentioned that the same device is used to upload results once voting ends.
“That gadget has stopped impersonation, double voting, and multiple voting. After elections, we use the same machine to upload results. It handles three main tasks,” he said.
Okoye said that INEC engineers created the device’s specifications before working with manufacturers in China to make it.
“That’s why we invest heavily in it because that machine was designed in INEC and manufactured in China. INEC engineers designed it and said this is what they want and went to China and said, please, can you fabricate a three-in-one machine for us?” he said.
He reiterated that the device was developed to perform three major functions, including voter enrolment, voter verification and accreditation, and result upload.
“That’s why we invest heavily on it. We use it for voter enrolment, it’s used for voter verification and accreditation, and also it’s used for result upload. That’s why we invest heavily on it,” he added.