The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has submitted the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines used in the Edo State Governorship Election to the Election Tribunal, following a legal request from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The election, conducted on September 21, 2024, saw Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) emerge victorious. However, the PDP has contested the results, citing concerns over electoral irregularities. After INEC initially declined to release the BVAS devices voluntarily, the party obtained a subpoena compelling the commission to present them as evidence before the Tribunal.
With the BVAS machines now in the Tribunal’s custody, experts are analyzing the retrieved data, particularly in relation to allegations of over-voting. Preliminary findings suggest inconsistencies between the number of accredited voters recorded by the BVAS and the final results announced in multiple polling units.
The PDP contends that votes recorded in some areas exceeded the number of accredited voters, which, if proven, could indicate electoral malpractice. The Tribunal’s review of the BVAS logs is expected to play a crucial role in determining whether the election results were accurate.
During Thursday’s hearing, a collation agent from Akoko Edo’s Ward 9 testified before the Tribunal. He acknowledged that while voting in the ward’s 13 polling units was conducted without major disruptions, the results collated at the ward level differed from those uploaded on INEC’s Result Viewing Portal (IREV).
Additionally, he alleged that an alternative set of results had been introduced at the collation center, which did not match the records from the polling units. Due to this discrepancy, he refused to endorse the ward’s final result sheet.
A second witness from Oredo Local Government Area also presented evidence, asserting that the final results declared in Ward 1 did not align with either the original polling unit results or the data available on the IREV platform.
In response to these claims, the Tribunal admitted Certified True Copies (CTCs) of electoral documents submitted by the PDP. These documents, the party argues, highlight significant disparities between the official election results and the actual polling unit records.
The inclusion of BVAS data as evidence is widely regarded as a pivotal development in the case. Since the Supreme Court has affirmed BVAS as the primary reference for voter accreditation data, legal analysts believe this strengthens the PDP’s petition, led by Asue Ighodalo.
The BVAS logs provide an auditable trail of the number of accredited voters in each polling unit, making them a crucial piece of evidence in verifying the legitimacy of the results declared by INEC. If discrepancies persist between BVAS records and the official results, it could impact the Tribunal’s final ruling.
On the other hand, the APC and Governor Monday Okpebholo’s legal team are expected to scrutinize the BVAS evidence carefully. Their defense strategy will likely focus on questioning the credibility of the PDP’s claims and ensuring that the election outcome remains valid.
As the Tribunal continues its proceedings, the case remains one of the most closely watched legal battles in recent electoral history, with significant implications for future elections and the use of BVAS technology in Nigeria.