The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has refuted claims circulating in the media regarding the alleged manipulation of accredited voter figures in the Kogi Governorship Election results posted on the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal. In a press release issued on Tuesday, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, a National Commissioner and Member of the Information and Voter Education Committee, clarified that these reports are baseless.
Haruna emphasized that the most accurate and current Voters’ Accreditation Data is housed in the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), a system utilized for the authentication and accreditation of registered voters on election day. This system operates primarily offline, ensuring a swift and efficient experience for voters. However, when active and connected to the Internet, the BVAS automatically transmits accreditation data to the Accreditation Backend System (ABS).
The Commissioner explained that the exportation of data occurs when the BVAS application is active, and its connection to the internet is robust. He likened this process to the delay in sending an SMS due to poor network connectivity. Haruna further noted that at the close of polls, Presiding Officers trigger the exportation of data from BVAS to ABS, a process known as synchronization. This ongoing process can result in changes to accreditation figures as additional data flow in to update the existing information. Importantly, the accreditation data cannot be altered on the BVAS after the close of polls.
In light of these facts, Haruna urged the public to dismiss misleading reports and misinformation surrounding the alleged manipulation of accreditation data, reiterating the Commission’s commitment to a transparent electoral process.