The campaign of the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has raised concerns over the security of Nigeria's Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) ahead of the 2027 general elections, noting that the devices run on an operating system that no longer receives security updates.
Atiku's Media Adviser Flags Android 10 End-of-Life
Paul Ibe, media adviser to the former vice president, pointed to remarks made by the Independent National Electoral Commission's (INEC) Director of ICT, Dr Lawrence Bayode, on Arise TV earlier that day. Bayode confirmed that BVAS, which INEC introduced into Nigerian elections in 2021, currently runs on Android version 10. Ibe said what Bayode did not disclose is that Android 10 reached end of life in 2023, meaning the operating system no longer receives updates or security patches from Google.
This was disclosed in a statement published via Ibe's X handle @omonlakiki on Tuesday, August 11, 2026.
Osun Mock Exercise Failures Add Fuel to Concerns
The press release linked the software issue to the accreditation failures recorded during Osun State's mock exercise on August 1, 2026, which Ibe described as evidence of the technology's inadequacies. The combination of that failure and the ICT director's on-air admission, the statement argued, exposes serious vulnerabilities in a system that will be central to how millions of Nigerians vote and are verified in 2027.
Running election hardware on an unsupported operating system means the devices are no longer protected against newly discovered security threats, a risk that critics say INEC has yet to publicly address.
Nigerians React to BVAS Revelation
The disclosure drew responses from several Nigerians on social media. Dr Usman Abdullahi A., posting as @abuajmal82, called the matter one that could not be ignored: "This is a very serious issue that Nigerians cannot afford to ignore ahead of the 2027 elections. Election technology must inspire confidence, not suspicion. If INEC is indeed operating BVAS on an operating system that has reached end-of-life, then Nigerians deserve clear answers: Why has the system not been upgraded? What independent security audits have been conducted? And what safeguards are in place to guarantee that voters' accreditation data and election results cannot be compromised? Atiku is right to demand transparency and accountability."
@Akin_Malaolu responded more briefly, writing: "A stitch in time saves nine. Awesome reminder."
INEC had not publicly responded to the specific concerns raised in the press release at the time of publication.
Atiku Raises Alarm Over Suspicious Transfer
Recall that Atiku's camp flagged an unauthorised credit into one of his private bank accounts, with the narration 'Contribution electioneering campaign'. His campaign said neither Atiku nor his team knew the person behind the payment or how they obtained his confidential banking details.
Atiku's spokesperson warned security agencies and the public about what he called suspicious activities ahead of the 2027 elections.
