Anambra Electoral Commission rejects BVAS for LGAs election,  cites reliability concerns

The Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC) has announced its decision to forgo the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) for the upcoming local government elections on September 28, opting for manual accreditation instead.

The decision was revealed by Anthony Nnalue, the Commissioner for Information and Logistics, during a sensitization program organized by the International Peace and Civil Responsibility Centre (IPCRC) on Thursday in Awka.

Nnalue explained that the commission considers BVAS unreliable, citing previous disruptions to Nigeria’s electoral process.

“We will not use BVAS but manual accreditation. BVAS is not reliable; it has distorted the electoral process in Nigeria. We do not want a situation where election results are tampered with,” he stated.

In place of BVAS, ANSIEC will deploy manual methods to ensure the integrity of the election. Nnalue also assured voters of timely arrival of election materials, emphasizing that past delays will not occur this time.

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He noted that non-sensitive materials are already en route to local councils, and the commission has trained 5,720 ad-hoc staff to conduct the elections across the state’s polling units.

“We are fully prepared and ready for the Saturday election in terms of security, materials, and logistics. Elections will not be held in Nnewi South, Orumba South, and Idemili South. Voters from these areas will vote at the council headquarters for safety reasons,” he added, urging the electorate to vote confidently, as their votes would count.

At the same event, Chris Azor, Coordinator of IPCRC, urged political candidates and voters to avoid malpractices such as vote buying, violence, and over-voting. He emphasized the importance of vigilance and called on security agencies to remain neutral while upholding the rule of law and human rights. Azor also announced the establishment of a Situation Room in Awka to provide real-time coordination and reporting on the election process.

“As accredited observers, we are committed to ensuring a free, fair, credible, and peaceful local government election in Anambra state,” he said.

With ANSIEC ready to conduct the election under manual procedures and observers pledging transparency, the state looks toward a smooth election day despite challenges.