By Mercy Peter
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN, has declared that voter impersonation and multiple voting have now been effectively eliminated from Nigeria’s electoral process, following the nationwide deployment of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).
Prof. Amupitan made the assertion on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, while speaking at the 2025 Digital Nigeria International Conference and Exhibitions in Abuja. He was represented by National Commissioner, Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu.
Describing BVAS as a “foolproof verification mechanism,” the INEC Chairman said the device has revolutionised voter authentication and significantly boosted the integrity of Nigeria’s elections.
“The BVAS device has become our frontline defence against identity fraud, ensuring that only the rightful and eligible voter can be accredited at the polling unit,” he said.
“With biometric safeguards fully activated, voter impersonation has been effectively eliminated from our electoral system.”
Prof. Amupitan cited performance figures from the recent Anambra Governorship Election as clear evidence of the system’s success.
He disclosed that all 6,879 BVAS devices deployed for the election functioned optimally, while more than 99 percent of polling unit results were successfully uploaded to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal on Election Day.
“These outcomes confirm that the deployment of BVAS and IReV is no longer experimental but an entrenched part of Nigeria’s electoral architecture,” he said. “The figures announced at polling units are the same figures visible to the public. Technology has safeguarded the vote.”
Prof. Amupitan noted that earlier attempts to introduce technology into the electoral process lacked legal protection, leaving the Commission exposed during litigations. The turning point, he said, came with the Electoral Act 2022, particularly Section 47(2), which formally recognised BVAS as a statutory instrument.
“This legislative foundation ensures that our digital tools enjoy both operational and legal legitimacy,” he explained. “It has strengthened public trust and empowered the Commission to innovate with confidence.”
Despite the major progress BVAS represents, the INEC Chairman admitted that technological deployment is not without challenges. Nigeria’s uneven telecommunications infrastructure, he said, remains a significant obstacle — particularly in remote polling locations.
“With 176,846 polling units situated in swamps, mountains, and isolated communities, achieving real-time transmission of results remains one of our toughest challenges,” he said. “A tool like BVAS is only as good as the network it runs on.”
He added that INEC is in continued engagement with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and network providers, while exploring alternative connectivity solutions to improve the process.
Prof. Amupitan delivered a clear message to political actors advocating a return to manual accreditation, stressing that the Commission will not reverse the progress made through technology.
“The gains we have recorded are too significant to reverse,” he said. “Manual systems were vulnerable to human interference. We have moved forward, and we do not intend to look back.”
He stressed that INEC’s next phase is to upgrade existing digital tools and adopt more advanced solutions for seamless elections.
The INEC Chairman concluded by affirming that the era of “ghost voters,” long associated with Nigerian elections, has been permanently laid to rest.
“Our mission is simple: to ensure every eligible voter is accurately verified, every vote properly counted, and every result transparently shared,” he said. “Technology has secured these foundations of democracy.”
