INEC fixes BVAS glitch affecting old PVCs ahead of Osun governorship election

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured voters that a technical glitch which prevented the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) from recognising some old Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) during Saturday’s mock accreditation exercise in Osun State has been resolved.

The issue surfaced during the INEC Chairman’s inspection of the commission’s readiness for the August 15 governorship election, with visits to polling units in Obokun, Osogbo and Egbedore Local Government Areas.

At the Post Office Polling Unit in Ibokun Ward, Obokun LGA, a 71-year-old voter, Apostle James Oyewole, was unable to complete accreditation after the BVAS failed to recognise his old PVC.

However, another voter who presented a newly issued PVC was successfully accredited within two minutes and proceeded to cast a mock vote, highlighting the isolated nature of the technical challenge.

Reacting immediately, INEC Chairman, Prof. Amupitan, directed the Commission’s Director of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Engr. Bayode Lawrence, to rectify the problem without delay.

Within minutes, Lawrence confirmed that the issue had been resolved.

“Both old and new voter cards have been synchronised for a seamless capture and voting experience for both the mock and main elections,” he said.

The INEC Chairman also instructed the Director of Voter Registry, Tunde Gafar, to identify and address any other gaps observed during the exercise before the governorship election.

At another polling unit visited at St. Peter’s Primary School, Ibokun, where 327 voters are registered, election officials reported that voter accreditation was completed in less than one minute.

A similar BVAS-related issue was also observed at Okuban Polling Unit in Okoni/Olorunsogo/Opatedo Ward 10 of Egbedore Local Government Area before the technical adjustment was effected.

The mock accreditation exercise forms part of INEC’s preparations to test the functionality of its electoral technology and operational readiness ahead of the August 15 Osun governorship election.

The inspection team included INEC National Commissioners Prof. Kunle Ajayi, Dr. Baba Gbila, Dr. Kenneth Okeagwu, Dr. Sani Adams (SAN), Sunday Ajah, Malami Tukur Yusuf, Rear Admiral Jamila Malafa, as well as the Osun State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Barrister Oluwatoyin Babalola, and other senior officials of the Commission.