BVAS Don’t Require Internet Network To Function – INEC Explains

BY TEMI OHAKWE, ABUJA – The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has said that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System does not require internet network to do accreditation as well as to pull out voters information.

INEC Deputy Director in charge of ICT, Mr. Lawrence Bayode, who stated this at a Three-Day Capacity Building Workshop for Journalists in Abuja ahead of the 2023, explained that it is only at the point of result upload that the BVAS will pick available internet network as programmed to transmit results.

Bayode said; “INEC has done all to take care of hackers and the commission has also tried as much as possible to ensure that every vulnerability surface attack has been taken care of”.

In his speech, the President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Chris Isiguzo stressed the need for media practitioners in Nigeria to continually prioritize reports that will promote and protect the nation’s democracy.

Speaking on the roles of the media in the conduct of peaceful elections, Isiguzo appealed to practitioners to maintain highest possible standards in the cause of discharging their duties for the forthcoming 2023 elections.

In his own remarks, the Director of the Centre for Democracy and Development, Idayat Hassan, said the workshop was organised to equip participants with accurate reporting skills.

Represented by Damian Ihekoronye, who is the Centre’s Grant and Partnership Manager, Hassan also said that that the workshop is geared towards ensuring that journalists as well as other stakeholders are conflict sensitive in critical period.

Speaking in turn, announced that over 190,000 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) will be deployed across Nigeria.

Bayode also said that INEC is currently decongesting polling units with huge number of voters and creating new poll centres to save time and ensure efficiency.

In his words; “Currently, INEC is trying to reduce numbers of voters polling units to save time. BVAS machine can work for 12hours nonstop.