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Tag: BVAS

  • What BVAS will address in Nigeria – Keyamo reveals

    What BVAS will address in Nigeria – Keyamo reveals

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) has expressed confidence that the use of Bimodal Voter Accreditation  System (BVAS) will help to eliminate money politics from the Nigeria elections.

    Festus Keyamo, spokesperson for APC PCC, stated this when he appeared at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) forum in Abuja on Sunday.

    Keyamo, also Minister of State for Labour and Employment, commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the introduction of BVAS electronic transmission of result from polling units.

    He said that with the introduction of the two technologies into Nigeria elections, gone were the days where electoral officers and security agencies were being paid to change result at collation centres.

    He said before now, money were being used to bribe security agencies and electoral official to alter results, but BVAS will take away that.

    “Let’s be honest. You can see it in one or two isolated units, Can you buy 40 million votes?

    “You see in one or two units people sharing money, you now say the whole election is tinted. That is not true. You can’t buy so many votes.

    “Even when you give people money to go and give me money to voters, they rather pocket the money, they will not give them they would rather beg them. So that’s the truth.

    “The money they’re use in those days is to bribe security agents, when they bring results to polling unit collation centre they would drive everybody, switch off light, switch papers before you come abracadabra has happened,” he said.

    Keyamo said that BVAS was a blessing to the Nigeria electoral System.

    “For me BVAS is a blessing. BVAS is a blessing because it will the emphasize money in politics.

    “From the unit level straight to the central server in Abuja. You can access the central server from the ward collation center but you cannot change it, but you can enter and see what has been transmitted to Abuja.

    “So when the wrong copy come from the unit you can compare and say this what has been transmitted to Abuja.

    “Who do you want to bribe there who nobody?

    “So for me, even BVAS has reduced the issue of money in politics, and I love that,” he said.

    Keyamo also suggested that INEC should have all party agents at the commission situation room where it collate all the result from PUs level.

    He said that that would ensure transparency and avoid dangerous mistake in the collation of results.

    “Let me tell you the danger about electronic transmission of result, it is very good but if you make any mistake and it is out already and you said no it was a mistake. I want to change it. You want to burn this country.

    “Even it was a genuine mistake. If for example you say 300 + 300. You now record 350.

    “And you say sorry it supposed to be 600. But you have already released 350. You can’t change it to 600 again. Even if 300+300 is correct. You can’t change it.

    “Because the person who in favour will start burning. That is the danger in electronic transmission,” he said.

  • APC raises alarm of alleged plot to use BVAS to rig elections in Delta

    APC raises alarm of alleged plot to use BVAS to rig elections in Delta

    The Delta State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has raised an alarm of a plot to use the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) to rig the forthcoming elections in the State.

    The APC petitioned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), alleging that a Senatorial Candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) (name withheld) is holding nocturnal meetings with officials of the Commission to carry out the nefarious act.

    The allegations were made by the Delta State APC Publicity Secretary, E. V. Onojeghuo during a press conference at the secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Warri Correspondents Chapel.

    “We write to humbly inform you of the grand connivance between INEC officials in Delta State (and at the national headquarters of the commission) and PDP officials, including, Gov. Okowa to subvert the 2023 general elections in the state, by tampering with the Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) machines using financial inducement,” Onojeghuo stated.

    Warning that the plot, if allowed, has devastating consequences, APC alleged: “The plot that is presently on ground is to input predetermined figures into the BVAS machines that will be deployed to the polling units, before the commencement of voting on election day. It is in high gear, especially for the presidential, senatorial and governorship elections. The already loaded figures will be credited to the PDP, to give the party a headstart even before the election begins.”

    The APC also alleged: “Already, a senatorial candidate of PDP is holed up at his Life Camp [by Lento Aluminum] Abuja residence, where he holds nocturnal and clandestine meetings with INEC’s officials on how to subvert the operations of the BVAS machines in his senatorial district and the state, in general, to confer an undue advantage on PDP.

    “The unscrupulous INEC officials have opted to perfect the nefarious mission and requested that the notorious senatorial candidate, who is a strong member of Governor Okowa’s inner circles, come up with a list of individuals, who would be trained to achieve the subversive results.”

    The APC also claimed that a serving commissioner in the cabinet of Gov. Okowa hijacked PVCs meant for eligible voters in Ewu Ward 1 in Ughelli South LGA of the state.

    The APC further charged that “all parties must be given equal opportunity and a level playing ground in the elections.”

  • BVAS can read faces with heavy makeup – INEC

    BVAS can read faces with heavy makeup – INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has disclosed the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) to be deployed for the forthcoming general election is capable of reading faces with heavy makeup.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Mr Festus Okoye, INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of Information and Voter Education Committee made the disclosure on Thursday.

    “We have improved on the technology of the BVAS,” Okoye said on a Channels TV programme.

    He went further to say: “In almost all the places where I observed and where National Commissioners observed [during the mock accreditation carried out by the Commission], the voters did not need to use methylated spirits.

    “The BVAS is able to read their fingerprints. The BVAS is also able to read the facials of men and women with heavy makeup because it is able to read the contours of their faces.

    “The BVAS is able to read all the facial makeup of every individual. So, we are slightly more comfortable than we were before with the performance of the BVAS”.

    However, the INEC National Commissioner advised that voters should wear moderate makeup to the polling unit on election day.

  • Elections: I don’t see victory for PDP — Fashola

    Elections: I don’t see victory for PDP — Fashola

    The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, says he does not see victory for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the forthcoming presidential elections.

    Fashola, the Director, Election Planning and Monitoring of APC Presidential Campaign Council, made the remark at the Formal Launching of Eko O Ni Baje 10,000 Foot Soldiers for Tinubu/Shettima and Sanwo-Olu/Hamzat on Thursday in Lagos.

    He said that the main opposition party had been so much divided to record electoral victory either in the state or at the centre in the Feb. 25 and March 11 elections.

    He said that if PDP failed to beat the APC in 2019 elections when it was united with the current presidential candidates of NNPP and Labour Party in the party, it would be impossible for the party to beat APC in forthcoming elections.

    “When they (PDP) were together, they were not enough to challenge us. They are now broken into three, how can the sum total of what was not enough then be enough now that they have broken it into three parts.

    “Politics is about numbers but it is also about mathematics. It is a game of addition and multiplication. It is not a game of division and subtraction.

    “From 2019, this umbrella party that used to be one has now been divided into three. That party has divisions and subtractions, I don’t see a way to victory (for PDP).

    “Tell them that the arithmetics does not add up. We must go out and use our strength now. We have the largest number of registered voters, it must count.

    Fashola urged the the canvassers to move out and tell voters some of the reasons to allow APC to continue.

    According to him, the PDP ruled for 16 years without commencing work on many of the roads connecting Lagos State with other states but the APC administration is working on all of them.

    Listing such expressways to include Ikorodu-Sagamu, Lagos -Ibadan, Lagos-Badagry, Lagos-Abeokuta, Fashola urged the canvassers to explain to the people to be patient for APC to finish roads.

    Fashola commended Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu for continuing projects he inherited and starting new ones to position the state for the next wave technical development to make Lagos the smartest city in the region.

    Stressing the need for experience to lead a state like Lagos, Fashola said that some of those contesting the seat were not ready because they lacked experience.

    Fashola, a former governor of Lagos State and the Chief Host of the event, urged the party agents to be conversant with the usage of BVAS and monitor its readings to prevent manipulation of figures.

    He urged the party canvassers to educate educate voters on the right way to vote to avoid void votes on election days.

    “It is not about whether we will beat them (PDP), it is about how convincingly we will beat them,” he said.

    He urged the canvassers and party agents to keep their eyes open, saying, “our tool is our PVCS and our path to victory are our votes.”

    According to him, Tinubu, Sanwo-Olu and other APC candidates are resting on the people as the wall, hence the people must not let them down.

    In his remarks, Sanwo-Olu, who commended the party leaders for support, stressed the need for all to work together to deliver highest number of votes for Tinubu and other candidates in the state.

    The governor said that Tinubu remained the most suitable for the country, having done a lot for the state, the country and democracy.

    “When we work together, we can achieve a lot together. The bottom line is that we want to reach every nook and cranny of the state.

    “Our target, the five million votes will come out, we will deliver it. It is the number that we want to display.

    “Nobody has any credential that is close to Tinubu’s. Given his experience, Nigeria will be better off for it. This is what we deserve and what the county needs at this point in time.

    “We are going to deliver the largest number for our Presidential Candidate. Go all out and do all you need to do to canvass,” the governor said.

    On the tough economic situation, Sanwo-Olu said that he had given order for 50 per cent reduction in transport fares in government-controlled buses and provided food packages for people as reliefs.

    Also, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, said that Tinubu and Sanwo-Olu did not have any comparison with other presidential and governorship candidates because the duo understood the terrain with excellent track records.

    Hazmat urged the canvassers to move to “wake up those who are sleeping because this election is not about sentiment, it is about fact. The difference is clear. Open your eyes. We should not go back to PDP.”

    Dr Muiz Banire, the Guest Lecturer and former. APC National Legal Adviser, who noted that elections had become sophisticated in Nigeria, said that APC canvassers must be knowledgeable, educated and respectable to convince voters.

    According to him, with the use of Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS), party canvassers must avoid over-voting.

    Speaking, Mr Kayode Eleshln, the Director General, Eko Oni Baje 10, 000 Foot Soldiers, said that Nigerians must exercise their voting right in the forthcoming elections in favour of APC candidates, hence the launching of the group..

    Several APC leaders at the event took turns to address the crowd.

    They include Mr Mudashiru Obasa, the Speaker Lagos State House of Assembly, Dr Olorunimbe Mamora, the Minister of Science and Technology, Princess Adejoke Oorelope, former Deputy Governor, Sen. Gbenga Ashafa, several party chieftains and executive council members.

  • 2023 Elections: INEC reveals what it would do if BVAS is snatched

    2023 Elections: INEC reveals what it would do if BVAS is snatched

    Following the introduction of Bimodal Voter Registration Systems, BVAS into the Nigerian electoral system, the Independent National Electoral Comission (INEC) has revealed what it would do if BVAS is snatched by hoodlums on election day.

    According to INEC’s Deputy Director of Information and Communications Technology, Lawrence Bayode, the body has another system that can immediately deactivate any stolen BVAS on election day.

    Bayode who spoke on Channels Television’s special election programme noted that “if a BVAS is snatched, we already have a system in place that can deactivate that particular BVAS.

    The (hoodlums) cannot take over the accreditation process because the device is designed to push the accredited voters to the back end,” he said.

    According to Bayode, if the thugs take the device to other places where they will manipulate the data on the device, the Presiding Officer, PO of the polling unit will report the incident.

    “If such a thing happens, the PO reports and from the back-end, that device is deactivated so that the person who took away that device will not be able to do anything with the device,” he said.

    TheNewsGuru reports that BVAS was tested during Osun and Ekiti elections in the country.

     

     

     

  • Warehoused PVCs can no longer be used during elections – INEC

    Warehoused PVCs can no longer be used during elections – INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says warehoused Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) can no longer be used during elections as every voter must be authenticated with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).

    The Director-General of The Electoral Institute (TEI), Dr Saad Idris, stated this at the political parties’ polling agent training workshop and Training of Trainers (TOT) in Abuja on Monday.

    Idris said that election personnel, including political party polling agents, must be knowledgeable of their roles and what is expected of them.

    “New innovations in the voting system that polling agents need to be aware of include the BVAS which was introduced into our electoral process during the conduct of some elections in 2021.

    “The BVAS adds facial technology to the existing fingerprint authentication and this will ensure that all voters are authenticated by either of the technologies.

    “With bi-modal authentication, no person can come to vote more than once, as the face or the fingerprints of the person would have been captured during accreditation. This further ensures a one-person-one-vote system.

    “It is necessary to emphasise that warehoused PVCs can no longer be used during elections as every voter must be authenticated with the BVAS.

    “The enactment of the 2022 Electoral Act has also helped the voter accreditation process, as the law now recognises technology (Section 47 (2) of the Act), and there are clear punitive measures for the non-usage of accreditation devices on election day.

    “Also, the total number of accreditations for an election will be sourced from the total number accredited using the commission’s accreditation device – BVAS.

    “The BVAS is, therefore, the only means for accreditation of voters on election day,” he said.

    Idris said that in addition, to improve the openness and credibility of elections, INEC decided to make available electronic copies of the PU Result Sheet (EC8A) for the general public to view.

    This, according to him, brought about the INEC Results Viewing (IReV) Portal.

    “This implies that the EC8A form filled and signed by each Presiding Officer (PO) is scanned or photographed and uploaded to a Public Domain which can be viewed by the General Public.

    “This system ensures that the EC8A filled at the PU is the same as that brought to the Collation centre, as the RA Collation Officer checks the uploaded EC8A before collating the result.

    Idris said that the participants were expected to cascade the training to all other party agents at different levels before the commencement of the 2023 general election.

    In his remarks, Chairman, Board of Electoral Institute (BEI), Prof. Abdullahi Zuru, reiterated INEC’s determination to ensure that every valid vote counts and the will of the people prevails in 2023 general elections.

    Zuru said that INEC was determined to make the forthcoming elections free, fair, credible, inclusive, transparent and verifiable.

    He reiterate that INEC was committed to the deployment of the BVAS for voter verification, authentication and accreditation.

    “To ensure absolute transparency, the BVAS will also be used to upload accreditation data and election results to the IReV in real-time on Election Day to enable all Nigerians and foreigners to follow the election as it happens.

    “The commission is determined to ensure that every valid vote will count, the will of the people will prevail, and the 2023 General Election will be free, fair, credible, inclusive, transparent and verifiable.

    “To this end, we just concluded nationwide mock accreditation exercise on Saturday, Feb. 4, where we tested the field performance of the BVAS.

    “The results of the test were very successful and response of Nigerians across the country very pleasing.

    “Therefore, be reassured that we are indeed very ready for the 2023 general election,” Zuru said.

    He said that the training was designed to equip party agents with the code of conduct of party agents on election day as well as highlight their role and responsibilities in line with the regulations and Guidelines for the conduct of elections 2022 and the Electoral Act 2022.

    “This training is quite significant as Political parties are empowered by Sections 43 (1 & 2) of the Electoral Act, 2023, to appoint agents to protect their interest at all the Polling Units where elections will be conducted across the country, as well as designated Collation centres.

    Zuru implored all participants to take the training with utmost importance as the task of conducting peaceful credible and acceptable election was a collective responsibility you share with the INEC.

    The participants included the national organising secretary, national publicity secretary, women leader and youth leader of each party (or their representatives).

  • 2023: Expert calls on INEC to urgently upgrade BVAS

    2023: Expert calls on INEC to urgently upgrade BVAS

    The Managing Director of New Horizons, Mr Tim Akano, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission  (INEC) to urgently upgrade the Bimodal  Voter Accreditation System  (BVAS) ahead of the forthcoming polls.

    Akano, who heads the computer training firm, made the call on Saturday in Lagos at the celebration of the World Data Privacy Day organised by Data and Knowledge Information Privacy Protection Initiative (DKIPPI).

    The theme of the celebrations is “Understanding Privacy and Online Risk in Digital World Today’.

    He said that regardless of the performance of BVAS in the next three weeks, there was a need for an urgent upgrade against the background of the over-voting recorded in the recent Osun governorship election.

    According to Akano, 2023 World Data Privacy Day celebration could not have come at a better time.

    “This will be the first time in the history of elections in Nigeria that the country would rely on wholesale technology to choose its next president.

    “Will BVAS lead to a breakthrough or a breakdown of Nigeria even though BVAS end -to-end encryption security offers more than a kilogramme of comfort and confidence?

    “It is good and helpful nonetheless and it is in the best interest of INEC in particular and Nigeria in general to pay more than a casual attention to what we call Man -in-the -Middle attack or a replay attack which dark hackers can exploit to intercept, modify and retransmit the election data while in motion or transit,’’ he pointed out.

    Akano said that more importantly, transmitting sensitive data using the GSM technology which BVAS depended on was not as water-tight as using the satellite technology.

    He said that a reconfigured BVAS 2.0 would definitely be capable of identifying and automatically eliminating cases of over-voting from the source polling units using certain Artificial Intelligence technology.

    He said that it would thereby save INEC from avoidable embarrassment of having to harmonise their data, as it happened in Osun with three results in one election.

    According to him, time is no more for the implementation of this reconfiguration before the Feb. 23 presidential election but suffice to say that the technology to arrest over-voting by BVAS exists today.

    “If the F-35 American fighter jet, the most sophisticated fighter jet in the world, can be hacked, BVAS is not absolute,“ he said.

    He, however, described data security privacy as a strong iron steel installed on the window to prevent theft which should be embraced by individuals and organisations.

    In his address, the Convener, Mr Tokunbo  Smith, expressed excitement  because many government institutions, corporate bodies and professional bodies have joined  in celebrating the World Data Privacy Day.

    He said that DKIPPI had contributed and was still contributing to the development of Data Privacy and Protection in Nigeria.

    Smith said that the desire of the initiative to create awareness on data privacy and educate the public on the importance of data privacy was already yielding positive results.

    The highlights of the event was the presentation of awards to some individuals.

  • 2023 elections: We won’t disappoint Nigerians – INEC

    2023 elections: We won’t disappoint Nigerians – INEC

    Prof. Ayobami Salami, the Ekiti State Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) has said that the commission won’t disappoint Nigerians in the 2023 general election.

    Salami stated this in Ado-Ekiti on Saturday shortly after monitoring the mock accreditation for the election in the state.

    Salami who described the accreditation in the state as successful added that Nigerians should expect efficiency and best election in 2023.

    “I am very happy that the mock accreditation went very well in all the Polling Units ( PUs) that we visited, people came out and there was no challenge recorded.

    “We are very optimistic that what we witnessed today will be replicated later this month and later in March in the general election.

    “The people of Ekiti and Nigeria should expect efficiency, free and fair elections, and they should expect that we are going to do our best,” he said.

    Salami who said that INEC had received enough Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) for election the state, urged the electorate to come out and vote on election day.

    “Ekiti people have commended the deployment of BVAS and I want to assure them that INEC will not disappoint them,” he said.

    A reporter who monitored the mock accreditation in the state, reports that although there was low turn out of registered voters, the BVAS functionality was commended by those who participated in the exercise.

    Mr Adewale Olalekun, Electoral Officers 1 at PU-017, in front of Baisanya’s House/ Baisanya Adebomi, in Ado Y Dallimore Ward, Ado LG, Ekiti Central, said the process was seamless and it took average of 11 seconds to accredit a voter.

    “The BVAS has been working perfectly. So far we have accredited 11 register voters because the turned out is not much. We 608 registered voters at this PU,” Olalekun said.

    He said that there was no any challenge experience at the PU.

    A registed voter at PU15, front of Dele Ilori’s House/Basiri II, Ado “J” Okesa Ward, Ado Local Government, Ekiti Central, Chief Fakorede Oluwole, also commended INEC for the mock accreditation.

    Oluwole said that the process of accreditation was very fast, adding that it could be that fast during election time it will be commendable.

    Mr Oluwasegun Ikusika, INEC ICT staff at PU001, St Philips B/Anaye1, Aramoko 1, Ekiti West LG, said that the exercise started at 8.32am and 31 out of 413 registered voter had been accredited.

    He said that it took less than 30 seconds to accredit a voter.

    At PU021, Adico Aramoko District Comprehensive School, Igemo, Aramoko LG, Ekiti West only 25 registered voters had turned out for the exercise as at 1pm.

    The Chief Community Orientation Officer of the National Orientation Agency, Mr Ademola Adeniyi, who monitored the exercise at PU said that the process of accreditation was very fast.

    “Though the turnout is low, maybe because it is market day, the process has been very fast without any challenge,” he said.

    Adeniyi expressed confidence that the turn out during the general elections would be impressed because the agency was already do a lot of sensitisation.

    Some of the registered voters said they were already familiar with the accreditation device which was used in the state 2022 governorship election.

    A Businessman close to PU 15, Basiri, Seyi Oladeji, said he participated in the governorship election and the BVAS worked well.

    “We already have confidence in BVAS when it was used for our state election. I don’t think there is need for me to leave my business now and go when there is even no election taken place,” Oladeji said.

  • INEC commends turnout at mock voter accreditation in Delta

    INEC commends turnout at mock voter accreditation in Delta

    INEC has commended the turnout of potential voters at Saturday’s mock voter accreditation using the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) in Delta.

    The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Rev. Monday Udoh-Tom, who monitored the exercise in some polling units in Asaba said: “’what we have seen is very encouraging.

    “The people are happy and said they have seen the reality of the one man, one vote.’’

    He added: “the one man, one vote is coming to pass on Feb. 25. What INEC has been preaching about has come to stay. It is going to be one man, one vote.’’

    He assured those in doubt that the voter cards issued in 2011 are still valid for the oncoming general elections.

    “Some of these cards have been tested and they are working. The cards you have picked up newly are also working,’’ he said.

    Udoh-Tom advised eligible voters to turn out en-masse to discharge their civic duties on Election Days.

    “On the days of election, do not sit back at home. Come out and vote whoever is your choice candidate.

    “I also assure you that there won’t be problem of network failure during accreditation.

    “We don’t use network for accreditation or voting. We only use network for uploading and sending results,’’ he stressed.

    A correspondent who witnessed the exercise in some of the polling units observed that the BVAS machines functioned well, just as there was high turnout of potential voters.

    Potential voters who participated in the exercise commended INEC for its outcome, saying it was a good initiative.

    Mr Kennedy Asha of Owa Alero in Ika North East Local Government Area said he was accredited within five minutes of his arrival at the mock exercise.

    “I commend INEC for this initiative; it should keep it up,’’ he said.

  • INEC: BVAS not for voting – REC

    INEC: BVAS not for voting – REC

    The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Kwara State, Malam Attahiru Madami has said the Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) is not for voting.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Malam Madami clarified that the BVAS is to verify and authenticate the owner of voters’ cards before they vote.

    Madami made the clarification during a stakeholders’ meeting at the commission’s office in Ilorin on Thursday.

    He said that the meeting was very important, especially for the political parties to embark on voter education.

    The official explained that there won’t be over-voting with the use of BVAS for accreditation.

    He warned that if the presiding officer of any polling unit is mischievous and allow people to vote without verification by BVAS, such a person would be arrested and prosecuted.

    “Assuming the total number of people registered through accreditation is 300 and the ballot paper counted is 301, the result of that polling unit will be cancelled.

    “It means that all the political parties in the affected polling unit will get zero.

    “If your finger was put on the BVAS and your fingerprint match, you are going to vote, but if your fingerprint doesn’t match but your face match you are going to vote.

    “However, if your face and fingerprint were put three times and both don’t match, it means you cannot vote,” Madami explained.

    He, therefore, advised the representatives of political parties to draw the ears of their political agents to be vigilant during election.