Former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu, has clarified that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) used during Nigerian elections does not require internet connectivity to function at polling units.
In a viral video addressing concerns over network failures during past elections, Yakubu explained that the BVAS device operates offline on election day for voter accreditation and voting processes.
“The machine on election day does not require internet for upload; it works offline,” he said.
According to Yakubu, internet access is only required during the transmission of results, particularly when scanned images of polling unit result sheets are uploaded.
He noted that if there is no network coverage at a polling unit, the results will be transmitted once electoral officials move to an area with connectivity, such as a collation centre.
“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 taken using BVAS will be transmitted as soon as staff move from the polling unit to the collation centre,” he explained.
Yakubu also disclosed that INEC has been collaborating with telecommunications providers to address network blind spots in parts of the country to improve result transmission.
The clarification comes amid ongoing debate over the reliability of technology deployed in Nigeria’s electoral process, particularly regarding the electronic transmission of results.
INEC introduced BVAS to enhance transparency by enabling biometric voter accreditation and uploading polling unit results to its Result Viewing Portal (IReV).
However, network-related challenges in some areas have previously triggered controversy and legal disputes.
Yakubu’s comments follow recent amendments to the Electoral Act by the Nigerian Senate. During plenary presided over by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, lawmakers revised Section 60 to mandate the electronic transmission of results to INEC’s IReV portal.
Under the amended provision, presiding officers are required to electronically transmit polling unit results after voting concludes.
However, the revision also states that where electronic transmission fails due to network or communication issues, the manually completed result sheet (Form EC8A) will serve as the primary basis for collation and declaration of results.
The amendment has generated public backlash and protests, with critics alleging that the provision allowing manual results to prevail could weaken efforts to ensure credible and transparent elections.
