The Ekiti state governor, Abiodun Oyebanji and Stakeholders have commended the deployment of Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) technology in the conduct of Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections.
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They described the BVAS as a game changer, which practically eliminated any form of malpractices during the exercise.
The Bimodal Voter Accreditation System is an electronic device designed to read Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs, and authenticate voters, using their fingerprints, in order to prove that they are eligible to vote at a particular polling unit.
The technology was deployed by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, during the governorship election in Ekiti last year.
Aside verifying the genuineness of the PVCs and the fingerprint or facial authentication of voters during accreditation, the BVAS replaced the Z-pad for uploading polling unit results to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) in real-time on election day.
The State Governor, Abiodun Oyebanji, shortly after casting his ballot at his Ikogosi hometown, said the INEC had improved its processes with the introduction of the BVAS technology.
“We must commend the Federal government and we must also commend the INEC for improving on their processes. We cannot run away from technology. It’s going to make the process more transparent, the turnaround time faster and it’s going to make the election more credible. It’s a work in progress and I am sure that INEC is on top of the game,” he said.
Similarly, the Federal Commissioner for Salaries, Wages and Incomes, Dr Mojisola Yahya-Kolade, in an interview with Voice of Nigeria, noted that the introduction of bvas technology has strengthened the voting process.
“The BVAS is excellent. If you are not captured, you are not captured! If your PVS for whatever reason does not show, they would not allow you to vote. And we the leaders of the party we are enforcing that and encouraging them. I went around and said if you are not checked, don’t vote, because we don’t want any problem.
“We don’t want any stories. There is no need, if your face is not captured; if your PVC is not captured then you are not voting. So, I think this is one of the best things we have and I hope this is the beginning greater things to happen to this country we all love so much.”
A Federal House of Representatives candidate for Ekiti Federal Constituency 1, Bimbo Daramola, though commended the INEC for the improvement brought about by the use of BVAS, said more trainings should be done for the personnel that will operate the machine.
According to him, some of the corps members, who served as polling officers in his area could still not handle the machines effectively.
“I think INEC has modestly done a bit well, just that in subsequent elections we expect the training to be done should not be rushed through. You see that INEC rushed through the training for the officers because the way the guys handled the BVAS machine you see a little bit of fumbling there.
“So, I think that INEC should give these officers the training that will endure so that they can get to do the job easily, not that you train them two days ago and put them on the job today,” he noted.
The election in Ekiti State on Saturday was generally peaceful. Voice of Nigeria correspondent, covering the election, observed relatively good turnout of voters, who conducted themselves in orderly manner at various polling units.
Aside the state capital Ado Ekiti, some other places visited include Ikere Ekiti, Ilawe, Ikogosi (state governor’s home town) Igede Ekiti, Osi Ekiti Ifaki Ekiti, Oye Ekiti, Ire Ekiti, Ido Ekiti and Ilupeju Ekiti.
