Janet Samuel
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan has affirmed that Nigeria has crossed a historic threshold in its electoral evolution, declaring that technology, particularly the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), has finally buried the longstanding menace of voter impersonation.
Prof. Amupitan made the declaration at the 2025 Digital Nigeria International Conference and Exhibitions organised by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA). The event, held on Tuesday in Abuja, brought together local and international stakeholders in technology, governance, and civic innovation. The INEC Chairman was represented by National Commissioner, Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu.
In his keynote address, Prof. Amupitan said the introduction of BVAS has delivered one of the most significant democratic safeguards in recent electoral history, describing the device as a “foolproof mechanism” for verifying voter identity.
“The BVAS device has become our frontline defence against identity fraud, ensuring that only the rightful, eligible voter can be accredited at the polling unit,” he said. “With the biometric safeguards now in place, voter impersonation has been effectively eliminated from our electoral system.”
To reinforce his claim, the INEC chief referenced field data from the recently concluded Anambra Governorship Election, where 6,879 BVAS devices deployed across the state recorded what he termed an “outstanding performance.” He noted that over 99 per cent of polling unit results were successfully uploaded to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal on Election Day, an achievement, he said, underscores the consolidation of technology in election management.
“These outcomes confirm that the deployment of BVAS and IReV is no longer experimental but an entrenched part of Nigeria’s electoral architecture,” he said. “The figure announced at the polling units is the same figure visible to the public. Technology has safeguarded the vote.”
Prof. Amupitan also credited the Electoral Act 2022 for cementing the role of digital devices in the voting process. He described Section 47(2) as the legal turning point that elevated BVAS and similar tools from mere administrative innovations to instruments with full statutory backing.
“This legislative foundation ensures that our digital tools have both operational and legal legitimacy. It has strengthened public trust and enabled the Commission to innovate with confidence,” he said.
Despite these advancements, the INEC chairman acknowledged one area where technology continues to face obstacles and network connectivity. Nigeria’s vast and diverse terrain, with 176,846 polling units located in hard-to-reach areas, remains a major constraint in achieving real-time upload of results to IReV.
“A tool like the BVAS is only as good as the network it runs on,” he admitted, noting that the Commission is in discussions with the NCC and telecommunications companies while exploring alternative technologies to improve nationwide coverage.
Prof. Amupitan, however, dismissed any suggestion that the Commission might revert to pre-technology election procedures, insisting that manual accreditation, long criticised for its susceptibility to manipulation, is no longer an option.
“The gains we have recorded are too significant to reverse,” he said firmly, adding that INEC intends not only to sustain but broaden its technological reforms ahead of future elections.
As the conference concluded, the INEC Chairman reiterated that the era of “ghost voters” and identity manipulation is effectively over, stressing that the Commission’s commitment is rooted in transparency, accuracy and public accountability.
“Our mission is simple: to ensure that every eligible voter is accurately verified, every vote is properly counted, and every result is transparently shared. Technology has helped us secure these foundations of democracy,” he said.
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