Plots against INEC Chairman, BVAS worrisome, scary says group

The Centre for Transparency Advocacy (CTA) has described the alleged plots to stop the use of Biomodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) for the 2023 general elections and remove of Prof Mahmood Yakubu as the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission as worrisome and scary, noting that was scarier because INEC has made attempt to clean up the voter register.

Recall that the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) had earlier raised the alarm of a purported move by some politicians to compromise the 2023 elections, by mounting pressures on INEC to deactivate the BVAS from its server, including stopping the electronic transmission of results, said it may not augur well for the country, which has witnessed democratic leadership for over two decades.

Executive Director of CTA, Faith Nwadishi on Friday noted that it is a known fact that Nigeria’s election administration has witnessed a steady improvement in credibility, acceptability, and inclusivity, from the conduct of 2015 and 2019 as well as the 103 off cycle elections and bye elections after the 2019 general elections, stressing that only 133 days to the 2023 general election, it behooves Nigeria and Nigerians to protect the electoral body from becoming compromised by negative elements.

READ ALSO: CUPP backs Wike, demands for resignation of Ayu

She revealed that about 2.7 million invalid registrants were cleared up from the INEC system, which included those who are underage, those who had no reason to register as provided by law and those who registered twice.

“The 2023 general election, which is 133 days away, is upon Nigeria and Nigerians. There is no doubt that Nigeria’s election administration has witnessed a steady improvement in credibility, acceptability, and inclusivity, from the conduct of 2015 and 2019 as well as the 103 off-cycle elections and bye elections after the 2019 general elections.

“According to the national Chairman of INEC, prof. Mahmoud Yakubu, the cleaning up of the voter registration data using the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) that combines the fingerprint and the facial authentication of registered voters is completed.

Commenting on the political class preparations towards the elections, Nwadishi noted that while INEC has shown sign of progress, the political class have not produced complimentary progress or shown reasonable commitment to the new Electoral Act to add to the confidence of Nigerians.

“For instance, they are yet to show commitment to the new Electoral Act and its provisions and continue in their old ways of heating up the polity using hate speeches and not addressing issues. You may recall that CTA in a press conference on 29th September 2022 set an agenda for the campaigns.

“Nigerian’s must insist on the use of the BVAS and the electronic transmission of results from the polling units. We deserve a better democracy with credible elections 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.”