By Olayemi Esan
In the evolving story of Nigeria’s democracy, two technological innovations stand out as defining achievements of the Professor Mahmood Yakubu–led Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC): the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Election Result Viewing Portal (IReV).
These tools have become the emblem of a tech-driven electoral reform agenda aimed at one of the most stubborn problems in Nigeria’s democratic journey — the integrity of election results.
For decades, result management in Nigeria’s elections was marred by ten recurring weaknesses: falsification of votes at polling units, inflated accreditation numbers, forged or swapped result sheets, destruction or mutilation of results, coercion of returning officers, premature declaration of results, and poor recordkeeping.
BVAS and IReV were designed to disrupt this cycle. BVAS verifies voters’ identities through fingerprint and facial recognition before voting, ensuring only accredited voters cast ballots. It also captures an image of the official polling unit result sheet (Form EC8A) and uploads it directly to the IReV portal. IReV, in turn, makes these results publicly accessible online in PDF format, allowing anyone to verify polling unit outcomes in real time.
The Professor Mahmood Yakubu–led Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has successfully introduced groundbreaking technological innovations aimed at enhancing the credibility and transparency of Nigeria’s electoral process. Central to these reforms are the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Election Result Viewing Portal (IReV), both designed to address long-standing concerns over voter identity verification and result collation integrity.
The BVAS device has revolutionised voter accreditation by combining fingerprint and facial recognition to ensure that only eligible voters participate in elections, thereby drastically reducing incidents of impersonation and multiple voting.
On the other hand, the IReV portal allows citizens, political parties, and observers to monitor election results in real-time by viewing polling unit-level results uploaded directly from the field. This digital transparency has been lauded as a significant step toward rebuilding public confidence in electoral outcomes.
INEC’s adoption of these technologies has attracted both national and international commendation, with observers noting that the innovations align Nigeria’s election management practices with global best standards. By improving accuracy, reducing human interference, and enhancing public trust, the Yakubu-led INEC has positioned technology as a cornerstone of future elections, underscoring its commitment to credible, free, and fair polls.
The Pushback from the Old Guard
While these technologies have improved transparency and public trust, they also threaten entrenched political interests. It is unsurprising that attempts have been made to halt their deployment — as seen in the Imo State litigation seeking to restrain INEC from using BVAS in a general election.
Globally, electoral technologies often face resistance from those who profit from opaque systems. At the same time, their credibility can be damaged if they are compromised or poorly managed.
Strengthening the Digital Shield
As the 2027 general elections approach, INEC must not rest on its laurels. To consolidate gains and avoid technological setbacks, the following urgent steps are recommended:
1. BVAS Software Optimisation – Upgrade to improve accreditation speed, image clarity of result sheets, and integrate PDF compression for faster uploads.
2. Publish Voter Accreditation Data – Transmit and publish accredited voter numbers alongside results on IReV, in line with Section 64 of the Electoral Act 2022.
3. Upload Ward-Level Collation Results (Form EC8B) – This will strengthen oversight at the often-vulnerable ward collation stage.
4. Expand IReV’s Processing Capacity – Increase server bandwidth, RAM, and storage to handle massive election-day traffic.
5. Penetration Tests and Mock Drills – Conduct and publicly share results of pre-election stress tests to reassure citizens of system resilience.
6. Intensive Training for Election Staff – Focus on result transmission, ballot accounting, and accurate BVAS operation.
7. Standardised Result Cancellation Forms – Replace handwritten notes with official forms for recording cancellations at polling units.
Beyond Technology — Building Trust
The BVAS and IReV are not merely gadgets; they are now central pillars of Nigeria’s electoral credibility. Their success depends not just on technical performance but also on public confidence.
By acting decisively on system upgrades, capacity building, and transparency measures, INEC under Mahmood Yakubu can ensure that Nigeria’s democratic gains are not only preserved but expanded..
The challenge is clear: to transform today’s digital dreams into enduring democratic victories. Anything less risks surrendering the progress made to the forces of regression.