Former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu, has clarified that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) does not require internet service to function on election day.
Yakubu made the clarification in a video currently circulating online, following renewed public concerns that poor network coverage in some parts of Nigeria could disrupt elections.
According to him, BVAS performs voter accreditation completely offline at polling units, stressing that internet connectivity is not needed during the voting process.
“The machine on election day does not require internet for upload, it works offline,” Yakubu said.
He explained that network access only becomes necessary after voting has ended, when polling unit results are to be transmitted electronically. Yakubu noted that presiding officers scan the result sheets using BVAS and upload them once they reach areas with network coverage.
“When it comes to transmission of results, that’s where it needs network. But if there is no network in the immediate vicinity, the scanned image of the polling unit result will be transmitted as soon as the staff move from the polling unit to the collation centre,” he explained.
Yakubu also disclosed that INEC has been collaborating with telecommunications companies to improve network coverage in areas identified as blind spots.
“And we are working with telecommunications companies and we are satisfied that there are blind spots that can be addressed,” he added.
His remarks come amid ongoing debates over the credibility of electronic result transmission in Nigeria’s elections.
While BVAS was introduced to enhance transparency through biometric accreditation and real-time upload of polling unit results, past elections have recorded complaints of network failures, especially in remote areas. These challenges later featured in court cases and political disputes.
Yakubu said his comments were meant to reassure Nigerians that voting itself is not affected by internet challenges, as only result transmission depends on network availability.
Meanwhile, controversy has intensified following recent amendments to the Electoral Act by the National Assembly.
The Senate amended Section 60 to allow electronic transmission of results to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IREV), but also approved a provision that prioritises manual result sheets where electronic upload fails.
Under the amendment, presiding officers are required to attempt electronic upload after voting. However, if this fails due to network issues, Form EC8A will be used as the primary document for collation and declaration of results.
The decision has drawn criticism from civil society organisations and opposition figures, who argue that it could weaken election transparency.
Former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, joined protesters at the National Assembly under the #OccupyNASS movement, accusing lawmakers of creating loopholes that could enable manipulation.
“We know why they are doing it. These people cannot win in free and fair elections. But the people have a duty to demand processes that guarantee free, legal and transparent elections,” Sowore said.
