On Saturday, the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) experienced technical challenges in several polling units across Ekiti State, with voters and observers reporting malfunctions during the accreditation and voting process.
BVAS Malfunctions Reported Across Multiple Wards
At 10:08 a.m., observers at Polling Unit 03, Ward 7, Okimi/Apadaba in Ilawe Local Government Area reported that the election process had commenced after an earlier BVAS malfunction was resolved. Voting proceeded after the device became operational.
At 10:11 a.m., voters at Polling Unit 12, Ejigbo Farm 1, Ward 11, in Oye Local Government Area complained that some eligible voters could not cast their ballots because the BVAS failed to capture their faces. They also said there was no manual accreditation.
At 10:15 a.m., observers at Polling Unit 001, Oke Agba Community School, Ekamarun Ward A, in Ijero Local Government Area reported that voting was ongoing, but the BVAS had stopped working.
INEC Conducts Ekiti Off-Cycle Election
The Ekiti off-cycle election is being conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the 177 wards across the 16 local government areas of the South-west state. Over one million voters are expected to participate in the polls, being contested by the candidates of 14 political parties.
According to observers, the technical failures have raised concerns about the integrity of the accreditation process, as affected voters were unable to exercise their franchise. In some units, the lack of manual backup meant that voters had to wait for BVAS to be repaired or replaced before they could proceed.
Impact on Voter Turnout and Election Credibility
These malfunctions could potentially impact voter turnout and the overall credibility of the election. Election analysts note that similar technical issues in past elections have led to disenfranchisement and delays. INEC has yet to issue an official statement regarding the extent of the BVAS failures or any contingency measures being implemented.
As voting continues, residents and civil society groups are calling for swift resolution of the technical glitches to ensure that all eligible voters can cast their ballots without hindrance.
