Group faults alleged plot to stop electronic transmission of election results

The Centre for Transparency Advocation (CTA) has faulted alleged plot to stop electronic transmission of the 2023 general election results by deacting the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).

Ms Faith Nwadishi, the Executive Director, CTA, said this at a news conference in Abuja on Friday.

National Daily reports that a Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) had alleged that there plans to pressurise the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deactivate the BVAS from its server.

Nwadishi said that CTA found the allegation worrisome and scary.

“It is scarier because we are aware of INEC’s attempt to clean up the voter register.

“There was no public knowledge of what the security agencies did on the first allegation other than what CUPP claimed to be the arrests of those suspected to have leaked the information to CUPP.

“CTA therefore strongly condemns such plans and urges Nigerians to rally around INEC and its current leadership to resist any attempt to halt the use of the BVAS machines.

“Nigerians must insist on the use of the BVAS and the electronic transmission of results from the polling units,” she said.

Nwadishi added:”We deserve a better democracy with credible election as its foundation.

“Nigerians will no longer fold their arms and watch any electoral progress we have made wiped out by the real enemies of our democracy.”

The executive director, however, said that the group was impressed with the level of preparation and accomplishment by INEC with the recent upsurge during the just concluded continuous voter registration.

“We have observed the innovations introduced by the electoral body to increase transparency and ensure credibility of the electoral process.”

Also speaking, Chief Emeka Ononamadu a former INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner for Enugu State, said that “we were startled by the two revelations by CUPP.

“There is no smoke without fire. It is important and instructive to note that over the pass five years, there is incremental achievements recorded by INEC because of the deployment of BVAS.

“Now that the technology has given voters a ray of hope, I do not think there should be any controversy around it.”