INEC To Test Upgraded BVAS Ahead Of Anambra Governorship Election

As preparations intensify for the forthcoming Anambra State governorship election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced plans to test an upgraded version of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS). The commission says the trial is part of ongoing efforts to enhance the credibility, transparency, and efficiency of Nigeria’s electoral process ahead of the November 2025 gubernatorial polls in the state.

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INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, who disclosed this during a stakeholders’ meeting in Awka, said the upgraded BVAS device has been redesigned to address several technical challenges experienced in past elections. According to him, the upgraded model will undergo a comprehensive field test to ensure its performance under real-time voting conditions before deployment for the Anambra election.

Yakubu explained that the test-run would be conducted across selected local government areas and polling units within Anambra State, focusing on network performance, battery life, speed of accreditation, and data synchronization with the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal. “We are determined to improve the efficiency of the BVAS and restore public confidence in the technology. The upcoming test is part of our broader strategy to ensure that every vote counts and that results are transmitted transparently and accurately,” he stated.

He added that the commission has taken lessons from previous off-cycle elections, such as those held in Kogi, Imo, and Bayelsa States, where reports of malfunctioning devices, delayed accreditation, and network failures generated public criticism. “We cannot afford to repeat the mistakes of the past,” Yakubu emphasized. “That is why INEC’s technical team has worked closely with our development partners and the manufacturers of BVAS to design a system that performs optimally even in remote areas with poor internet connectivity.”

The BVAS, first introduced during the Anambra governorship election in 2021, has been a key component of Nigeria’s electoral reforms. It replaced the earlier Smart Card Reader by combining facial recognition and fingerprint biometrics to verify voters’ identities and prevent multiple voting. Despite its promise, the device has faced operational setbacks in several elections, leading to accreditation delays and, in some instances, the disenfranchisement of voters.

INEC’s Director of ICT, Engineer Chidi Nwosu, noted that the upgraded BVAS now includes stronger battery capacity, improved software architecture, faster processing speed, and offline data storage capabilities. “The enhanced device has been configured to operate efficiently in areas with low connectivity and can store data offline until it reconnects to transmit results securely,” he said.

Nwosu added that the new model will undergo rigorous stress testing under different weather conditions and in both rural and urban environments to ensure its durability and reliability on election day. “Our goal is to make sure that by the time we deploy the devices for the Anambra election, every potential issue has been identified and resolved,” he assured.

Stakeholders present at the meeting, including representatives of political parties, civil society organizations, and traditional rulers, welcomed the development, urging INEC to ensure that the testing process is transparent and inclusive. The Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in Anambra, Mr. Uche Okonkwo, commended the commission for its proactive steps but cautioned that technology alone would not guarantee credible elections.

“INEC’s effort to upgrade the BVAS is commendable, but we must also focus on the human element — proper training of ad-hoc staff, timely logistics, and accountability in result collation,” Okonkwo said. He further called on the commission to engage political parties and civil society groups in the testing process to build trust and ensure transparency.

Similarly, a representative of the Transition Monitoring Group (TMG), Mrs. Chinyere Akachukwu, emphasized the importance of voter education in ensuring that the electorate understands how the upgraded system works. “We must avoid a situation where voters are frustrated at polling units because of technical issues. INEC should conduct mock demonstrations and public sensitization to prepare the electorate ahead of the polls,” she said.

In his remarks, the Anambra Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. Queen Nwafor, disclosed that the state office has begun training sessions for INEC staff and ad-hoc officials on the use of the upgraded BVAS. She explained that the commission will conduct a mock accreditation exercise in all 21 local government areas of the state to evaluate performance before the main election.

Dr. Nwafor also assured residents that INEC was collaborating with security agencies to ensure a peaceful testing exercise and a secure environment during the election. “We have received strong assurances from the security architecture in the state that all necessary measures will be taken to safeguard both personnel and equipment during the test run and the actual election,” she said.

She urged political parties and candidates to play by the rules and avoid spreading misinformation about the commission’s processes. “We appeal to political actors to support INEC’s efforts by focusing on issue-based campaigns rather than casting doubts on the credibility of the process. Our mandate is to ensure free, fair, and credible elections, and we are committed to that goal,” Nwafor reiterated.

Observers believe that the success of the upgraded BVAS test will be a significant step in reinforcing Nigeria’s electoral transparency and public trust in INEC’s use of technology. Political analysts also note that Anambra’s election, being one of the high-stakes contests in the South-East, will serve as a litmus test for the commission’s readiness to deploy improved electoral technologies in subsequent national and state elections.

As preparations continue, INEC has reassured Nigerians that every technical and logistical detail will be addressed before the election date. “The upgraded BVAS is a reflection of our commitment to continuous improvement,” Yakubu said. “We will not rest until the Nigerian voter experiences a seamless, credible, and transparent electoral process.”

The commission is expected to publish a detailed schedule for the BVAS testing in the coming days, with stakeholders and media organizations invited to observe the process. All eyes are now on INEC as it takes another bold step toward strengthening democracy through technological innovation and accountability.