The head of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, has stated that the implementation of the Bimod...
The head of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, has stated that the implementation of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) has successfully addressed the long-standing issue of identity fraud in Nigeria's elections.
He announced this while addressing the 2025 Digital Nigeria International Conference and Exhibitions in Abuja, which took place on Tuesday and was hosted by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).
During his keynote speech, the INEC chairman, represented by Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu, a national commissioner, declared that the time of multiple voting and identity fraud has come to an end.
He pointed out that the BVAS marked a significant moment in the country's democratic history, having evolved into a 'reliable system' for validation.
The BVAS system has emerged as our primary tool in combating identity fraud, guaranteeing that only legitimate and qualified voters are recognized at the polling station.
"With the implementation of biometric security measures, the issue of voter impersonation has been successfully removed from our voting process," stated the chairman.
Addressing a varied group of technology pioneers, government officials, and representatives from civil society, Professor Amupitan supported his claim using BVAS data from the latest Anambra State gubernatorial election.
The head of INEC stated that the 6,879 BVAS units set up and used for the Anambra election operated exceptionally well, noting that more than 99 percent of polling unit results were submitted to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) platform on Election Day.
"These results show that the use of BVAS and IReV is no longer considered experimental, but has become a standard element of Nigeria's electoral system. The numbers declared at the polling stations are the same ones available to the public. Technology has protected the voting process," he stated.
The chairman of the INEC informed the audience that earlier technologies, despite being advanced, did not have the legal backing, making the Commission susceptible to procedural issues in election courts. However, this changed with the Electoral Act 2022.
He emphasized Section 47(2) as the pivotal clause that shifted digital devices from simple administrative rules to "legally safeguarded foundations" of the voting process.
"This legal framework guarantees that our digital solutions possess both functional and lawful validity. It has enhanced public confidence and allowed the commission to explore innovation with assurance," he stated.
Nevertheless, the knowledgeable law professor acknowledged in the opening speech that although voter identity fraud and double voting had been mostly addressed through BVAS, connectivity continued to pose a logistical challenge.
Amupitan admitted that although the commission's consistent use of technology has enhanced trust, it is certainly not a universal solution.
He highlighted the country's inconsistent telecommunications environment as a persistent challenge.
Amid 176,846 polling stations located in swamps, on mountain peaks, and in remote areas, real-time submission of results to the INEC Result Viewing Portal continues to be one of the most significant challenges for ensuring transparency on Election Day.
He acknowledged, 'A tool such as the BVAS is only as effective as the network it operates on,' and mentioned that the commission will keep working with the NCC and network operators to discover solutions to the issue, while actively seeking out other technologies to fill the gaps.
Although facing these technological hurdles, Professor Amupitan conveyed a clear message to the political community that there will be no reversal in utilizing technology for elections within the nation.
He strongly closed the door to any ideas of reverting to manual processes, referring to the previous manual certification system as "susceptible to human manipulation."
"The achievements we have achieved are too important to undo," the INEC chairman emphasized. He described a future in which the commission would not only maintain the existing technology but also proactively enhance it with more efficient solutions.
As the conference concluded, the INEC chairman emphasized that the 'ghost voter' phenomenon, which has been prevalent in Nigerian elections, is now a thing of the past and the Commission has no plans to revisit it.
"Our goal is straightforward: to confirm that each qualified voter is correctly verified, each ballot is accurately tallied, and each outcome is openly communicated. Technology has enabled us to safeguard these pillars of democracy," said Professor Amupitan.
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