Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, the Chairman of Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), made a significant announcement on Tuesday. He declared that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) has resolved the long standing issue of identity theft in elections. This statement highlights a major advancement in electoral integrity.
Moreover Amupitan emphasized BVAS’s role during a press briefing in Abuja. He noted that the system uses biometrics to verify voters accurately. As a result, fraudulent voting decreases sharply.
How BVAS Works
BVAS combines facial recognition and fingerprint scanning. Voters present their Permanent Voter Cards, and the device cross checks their details. This process makes sure only registered people cast ballots.
Also the system uploads data in real time to INEC servers. Instantly, the officials can monitor activities, thus preventing tampering. Election workers gain confidence in the process.
Addressing Identity Theft
For many years, identity theft plagued Nigerian elections, as impersonators with stolen cards voted many times. BVAS detects mismatches almost immediately and rejects unauthorized attempts.
Amupitan referred to recent elections where BVAS reduced irregularities by over 80 percent. Voters now experience smoother accreditation, thus disputes drop considerably. Public trust in democracy strengthens.
Future of Electoral Reforms
INEC plans to expand BVAS nationwide for upcoming polls. Amupitan urged stakeholders to support technological upgrades. In addition, he called for training programs to equip staff better.
In conclusion, this development marks a turning point. Nigeria moves toward fairer elections, and other nations may adopt similar systems. As Amupitan concluded, BVAS secures the vote for every citizen.
