INEC Reveals Major Obstacle To Real-Time Result Uploads

The Independent National Electoral Commission has disclosed the major challenge hindering the real-time transmission of election results nationwide.

INEC Chairman, Prof Joash Amupitan, SAN, speaking at the 2025 Digital Nigeria International Conference and Exhibitions in Abuja, said that despite significant progress achieved with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, poor telecommunications connectivity remains the commission’s biggest obstacle to real-time uploads.

Amupitan, represented by National Commissioner May Agbamuche-Mbu, noted that the uneven quality of network coverage across the country continues to disrupt seamless transmission of polling-unit results to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal.

According to a Tuesday statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Dayo Oketola, voter impersonation and multiple voting have been substantially curbed, but connectivity gaps persist across many regions.

He explained that with 176,846 polling units spread across swamps, mountains, and remote communities, achieving real-time result uploads remains one of INEC’s most difficult tasks in promoting Election Day transparency.

Amupitan stressed, “A tool like BVAS is only as good as the network it runs on.”

He added that INEC is working closely with the Nigerian Communications Commission and telecom operators to address the problem, while exploring alternative technologies to close existing gaps.

The INEC Chairman also reiterated that BVAS has decisively ended identity theft in Nigeria’s elections.

Addressing tech innovators, policymakers, and civil society groups, he declared that multiple voting and identity fraud “are over.”

He described BVAS as a major milestone in the nation’s democratic advancement, calling it a foolproof verification tool.

According to him, “The BVAS device has become our frontline defence against identity fraud, ensuring that only the rightful, eligible voter can be accredited at the polling unit. With the biometric safeguards now in place, voter impersonation has been effectively eliminated from our electoral system.”