BVAS Can Work Offline During Voting – Yakubu
Former INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu has clarified how the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) functions during elections, addressing public concerns over network problems.
He explained that the device does not need internet to operate at polling units, allowing voter accreditation and verification to continue smoothly even in areas with poor connectivity.
The former chairman noted that internet access is only required when transmitting results.
Scanned images of polling unit results can be uploaded once staff move to areas with network availability.
INEC has been engaging telecommunications providers to reduce network blind spots and ensure the process runs efficiently.
The clarification comes as the Senate amended Section 60 of the Electoral Act to mandate electronic transmission of results to the INEC Results Viewing Portal (IREV), while allowing manual results to prevail if the electronic system fails.
The change has sparked protests and criticism from opposition groups, who argue it could weaken electoral transparency.
Protesters, including former AAC presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore, have called on Nigerians to demand free and fair elections, warning against any manipulation of the process.
INEC maintains that accreditation and voting will not depend on internet access, and all results can eventually be transmitted electronically once network issues are resolved.
