BVAS Operates Offline on Election Day, Results Transmittable Once Network Restored — Yakubu

Mahmood Yakubu, former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has clarified that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) used in elections functions independently of internet access at polling units.

In a video circulating online, Yakubu explained that the device operates offline during voting, addressing longstanding concerns about network limitations in previous elections.

“The machine on election day does not require internet for upload, it works offline,” he said.

He added that connectivity is only necessary when transmitting polling unit results, including scanned images of result sheets. “If there is no network nearby, the scanned image will be transmitted once staff move to the collation centre,” Yakubu noted.

The former INEC chairman also said the commission is coordinating with telecommunications providers to address areas with poor or no coverage, often referred to as blind spots. “We are working with telecom companies and are satisfied that these blind spots can be addressed,” he stated.

Yakubu’s comments come amid public debate over the reliability of technology in Nigeria’s elections, particularly concerning electronic result transmission. The BVAS system was introduced to strengthen transparency, accrediting voters biometrically and uploading results to the public portal, IREV. Past network challenges, however, have prompted legal disputes and criticism.

The clarification follows the Nigerian Senate’s recent amendment to the Electoral Act. Section 60 now requires presiding officers to transmit election results electronically to IREV, but includes a provision allowing manual result sheets to take precedence if electronic transmission fails. The amendment, adopted under Senate President Godswill Akpabio, has drawn public backlash, with critics warning it could weaken electoral transparency.