The insistence by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to use the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) for the 2023 general elections has set the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), on a collision with opposition arrowhead the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The PDP on Wednesday criticised APC National Chairman Senator Abdullahi Adamu for expressing doubts about the usage of the BVAS
Adamu told a delegation of the Commonwealth when he hosted them at the party’s secretariat in Abuja that the introduction of BVAS for the transmission of elections in real time would produce a fair result for the nation in the 2023 elections.
He said due to the poor network and the fact that not all parts of the country were captured by service providers, the transmission of results electronically to all parts of the country was doubtful.
“I know that even in parts of Abuja there is no network, and we have from now until February when in substantial parts of the country there is no electricity.
“INEC must assure us 100 percent that as of when they are due to transmit results, they are ready because they spoke about recharging batteries. But we heard in previous elections when it said it couldn’t recharge.”
The APC’s National Organising Secretary, Suleiman Argungu, also spoke in tune with his National Chairman when he identified unstable power supply as an obstacle to the innovation.
Citing his home state, Kebbi, Argungu said the technology could experience some hitches.
In part, he said, “my state, Kebbi, which borders two countries, you can’t get people easily on the networks of Nigeria, Glo, MTN, and Airtel. If you want to get them, you have to use the numbers of other countries to reach them. So, during the election, I don’t see how the transmission of results will work.”
But the PDP questioned the APC national chairman for why he should be doubtful of the BVAS usage to transmit the 2023 results in real-time from polling units to a central server of the INEC.
According to PDP spokesperson, Debo Ologunagba, the APC was becoming uncomfortable knowing that with the BVAS, its chances of rigging the polls would be limited.
“The APC knows they stand no chance of winning elections in this country if the process is transparent. At a time the whole world is commending INEC, the APC national chairman is expressing doubt. What does that tell you? The ruling party does not want the 2023 polls to be credible, free, and fair. The PDP is fully behind INEC in the use of BVAS and planned transmission of results in real-time.
“BVAS was used in Ekiti and Osun states and the process was adjudged to be credible. INEC has improved over the years. We enjoin every political party to support the commission in its mandate of delivering credible elections to the country in 2023 and beyond,” he said.