Anambra Governorship Election: Observers List 5 Concerns About BVAS in Just Concluded Poll
- The outcome of the November 6 governorship election in Anambra state has been summarised by accredited observers
- The election observers, 78 in total, noted that INEC performed exceptionally well during the exercise in the southeast state
- They, however, lamented that the newly-introduced Biomodal Voters Accreditation System almost marred the election
FCT, Abuja - The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Thursday, December 9 received reports on the just-concluded Anambra governorship election from accredited observers, who monitored the exercise.
ThisDay newspaper reports that altogether, 78 election observers including six foreign election observers briefed INEC on the conduct of the poll.
Source: UGC
Legit.ng lists the various concerns of the observers.
1. They lamented the malfunctioning of the Biomodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) as one of the key issues that almost marred the exercise.
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2. They blamed the malfunctioning of the BVAS on the poor GSM network in Anambra.
3. The BVAS was too early to unleash such a system on a bigger election like a governorship election.
4. They called on INEC to overhaul the BVAS system to make it more functional during subsequent elections like the Federal Capital Territory council elections, the Osun and Ekiti states governorship elections.
5. The election observers explained that unless the mistakes of the BVAS were corrected, it stood the chance of encumbering the 2023 general election.
Coordinator of the Advocate for Peoples Rights and Justice, Victor Giwa, said the processes were not right for the BVAS to function as it was not susceptible to the environment.
Anambra governorship election tribunal begins sitting
In a related development, the Anambra governorship election petition tribunal commenced sitting in Awka, the state capital on Thursday, December 9.
The Guardian newspaper reports that the tribunal granted candidates of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Professor Charles Soludo and All Progressives Congress (APC), Andy Uba prayers to inspect materials used for the governorship election as they earlier requested.
APC candidate Andy Uba rejects outcome of Anambra governorship election
Legit.ng had earlier reported that the Uba Campaign Organisation rejected the result of the just-concluded Anambra state governorship election as declared by INEC.
The campaign organisation described the outcome of the election as a charade, adding that it did not reflect the wishes of the people of the state.
In a statement sent to Legit.ng on behalf of the campaign organisation, Ambassador Jerry Ugokwe, alleged Uba was a victim of widespread electoral fraud and manipulation by INEC.
APC chieftain hails Buhari over success of Anambra governorship election
Meanwhile, Promise Emmanuel, the chief press secretary of the Kogi state deputy governor, Chief Edward Onoja, has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for the smooth conduct of the just-concluded Anambra governorship election.
Emmanuel, popularly known as 'Kogi Rebel', made the comment in an exclusive interview with Legit.ng recently.
He stated that the recently concluded Anambra governorship election is a game-changer and an improvement in previous elections despite the challenges witnessed in the build-up and during the exercise.
Source: Legit.ng
