2027: INEC procures 57,000 BVAS devices, warns against attacks on staff

Joash Amupitan during interactive meeting with staff in Gombe for North-East zone. Credit: Chima Azubuike

The Independent National Electoral Commission chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, SAN, said on Tuesday that the commission has procured additional Bimodal Voter Accreditation System devices to strengthen its technological capacity ahead of the elections.

The INEC chairman disclosed this during the commission’s interactive meeting with staff & readiness assessment for the 2027 general election for the North-East zone in Gombe.

He said the commission was reviewing its technological infrastructure, including accreditation devices and electronic result management systems, to improve efficiency, transparency and accountability.

“We are hardening our Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices to ensure rapid voter verification, extended battery life, and seamless offline-to-online data synchronisation. 57,000 new BVAS have been procured,” he said.

He also mentioned the electronic verification platform, eEC8A, and the INEC Result Viewing Portal, IReV, as part of the commission’s efforts to improve transparency in result management.

Amupitan warned that technology alone could not guarantee credible elections without operational discipline and compliance with established procedures.

“A sophisticated technological device cannot by itself prevent human compromise. An independent electoral commission cannot by itself command public trust.

“The ultimate credibility of an election depends entirely on how faithfully, courageously, and impartially the law is applied by the human beings entrusted with its execution,” he said.

On security, Amupitan said the commission was strengthening collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Department of State Services, Armed Forces and other relevant agencies through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security.

He said the commission was shifting from reactive election-day security arrangements to an intelligence-led framework designed to identify and address threats before elections.

The chairman disclosed that joint operations led by the DSS had uncovered an alleged plot by criminal kingpins to target ad hoc electoral personnel and National Youth Service Corps members.

According to him, the threat was neutralised, and the principal suspects were arrested and are undergoing prosecution.

“Anyone who attempts to threaten, intimidate, or harm our ad hoc staff, NYSC members, or permanent personnel will be hunted down and brought to justice under the full weight of the law,” he warned.

He said the commission would also convene a national election security conference in Abuja to finalise security arrangements for areas considered vulnerable to electoral violence.