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The Independent Electoral Commission, INEC, has been given the urgent task of retraining its ad hoc staff on the efficient use of the Bimodal Verification Accreditation System, or BVAS, for the state’s upcoming elections after receiving by A Coalition Of Accreditation Observers Groups for the general elections in Yobe State in 2023.
On Tuesday in Damaturu, Adam Baba Kowa, Team Secretary for the Observers’ Group, provided the instruction while briefing journalists on their conclusions about the state’s just ended presidential and National Assembly elections.
He said, “There were reports of the late arrival of materials in some places, and some names were not found in the voters’ register, and there were some technical challenges with BVAS machine in capturing voters’ data.
“Also INEC ad-hoc staff were not well trained on the use of BVAS machines, and some voters were unable to vote as a result of failure of the machines to accredit them.”
The observers, however, noted that there were reports of some discrepancies between the total ballot papers cast and the total number of accredited voters in the BVAS machines in some polling units visited.
According to the observers, the peaceful conduct of the presidential and National Assembly elections exercise in the state may not be unconnected to the intensive voter education and the engagement of youth in governance to curb electoral violence in the state.
“We commend INEC for the innovation of the BVAS machines in the conduct of 2023 general election. The innovation which has reduced election malpractice,” he said.