Nigeria's INEC Faces BVAS Glitches in Osun Mock Election, Raising Concerns

Nigeria's Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) faced significant technical challenges during a mock accreditation exercise in Osun State on Saturday. The Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines malfunctioned in several designated polling units, revealing potential issues that need urgent resolution before the August 15 governorship election.

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The exercise, conducted in 12 local government areas across the state’s three senatorial districts, began in the morning with prospective voters presenting their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) for accreditation.

The exercise, conducted across 12 local government areas, began with voters presenting their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs). However, less than an hour after its delayed start, the BVAS devices reportedly failed to recognize voters' fingerprints, facial features, and PVC details. This technical failure brought the accreditation process to a standstill at the affected units, prompting INEC's technical personnel to work on restoring the system while voters waited.

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However, PREMIUM TIMES gathered that the exercise was interrupted less than an hour after late commencement when the BVAS devices reportedly stopped recognising voters’ fingerprints, facial features and PVC details, bringing accreditation to a halt at the affected polling units.

Dayo Olurode, the Public Relations Officer for Osun State INEC, confirmed the development. He stated that engineers were working to fix the devices but did not immediately provide a cause for the malfunction. INEC had organized the mock exercise to simulate election-day procedures and test the BVAS functionality before the main election, which does not involve actual voting during the simulation.

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When contacted by PREMIUM TIMES, the Public Relations Officer of the Osun State INEC office, Dayo Olurode, confirmed the development, stated that the commission’s engineers are working to rectify the devices but did not immediately explain the cause of the malfunction.

The glitches have sparked immediate concern among election observers and civil society organizations. The Coalition of Concerned Nigerian Citizens (CCNC), in a statement, questioned INEC's preparedness, calling the malfunction "alarming" and stating that a mock exercise should inspire confidence. The group warned that such technical failures on election day could disenfranchise voters and undermine public trust in the electoral outcome. They urged INEC to publicly explain the cause, disclose contingency plans, and replace any faulty devices ahead of the high-stakes governorship election.

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A mock exercise is meant to inspire confidence. It is the dress rehearsal before the main performance. But what we witnessed today is not reassuring. It is alarming.