Iner: Bvas, Irev not electrical scam

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INC) reaffirms its bidial electoral accreditation system (BVAS) and the display portal of the Incen results (IREV) are not scams.

The Director of Information and Communication Technology of Inc (Tic), dr. Lawrence Bayode made this clarification during a conversation organized by the Commission on X (previously Twitter) Saturday in Abuja.

In his presentation, entitled “Bvas and Irev: facts and myths”, said Bayode both Bvas and Irev were technological innovations aimed at improving the electoral process of Nigeria.

He underlined that the INNC had taken daring measures and made concerted efforts to improve the credibility, transparency and accuracy of the elections through technology.

Bayode described Bvas and Irev as the key components of the electoral process of Nigeria, noting that various wrong ideas had created doubts about their functions.

“There is the belief that Bvas and Irev are scams.

“This misunderstanding derives from misunderstandings, technical issues and general distrust in the electoral process. However, this belief is not correct,” he said.

“Bvas checks voters using fingerprints and facial recognition, ensuring that only accredited voters have voted.

“Irev is an online portal that allows the public to view the results of the polling scanned units for transparency. It does not count the votes or collects the results.”

He rejected the idea that technical faults, such as slow loads, server inactivity times or network problems, were equivalent to fraud.

“These challenges do not mean that the system has been designed to deceive the voters. Rather, highlight the areas that need improvements in the management of the elections,” he explained.

Bayode further dispelled the myth according to which the BVAs transmitted the electoral results, underlining that its main role was the accreditation and authentication of the voters.

“Bvas does not directly transmit the electoral results. Instead, the results are recorded on the EC8A module, which is then loaded on Irev,” he said.

“Bvas is used in the electoral units for the accreditation of voters. Irev is an online platform in which the results of the scanned electoral units are loaded for public vision.”

“Bva significantly reduce the representation of voters and excess vote, other electoral negligence can still occur, such as violence and purchase of votes,” he observed.

He also dissipated the myth according to which the vote could not continue if the BVA had not failed, explaining that I inec provided backup devices and, in rare cases, the elections of the electoral units concerned could be reprogrammed.

Bayode highlighted the role of Bvas in reducing electoral fraud, stating that the representation of the voters and the multiple vote had been significantly screwed by its introduction.

“Irev has also improved transparency by allowing citizens to check the results of the polying unit in real time.

“Before Irev, the electoral results were not easily accessible to the public. Now, discrepancies can be identified, which shows that the system improves transparency rather than being a scam,” he said.

The director of education and advertising of the inc voters (VEP), Victoria Eta-Messi, added that the Commission was collaborating with the National Assembly and the interested parties to modify the electoral law, in particular on the management of the electoral results.

He also reiterated the commitment of the Inc for the education of voters to build public trust, reduce the apathy of voters and promote credible elections.