As preparations intensify for the upcoming Area Council elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has carried out a mock accreditation exercise in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to assess its operational readiness and the performance of its Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) technology.
The exercise was conducted on Saturday in 289 selected polling units across the FCT ahead of the February 21 elections. It was designed to test the functionality of the BVAS and identify possible challenges before election day.
Speaking during a monitoring tour in Abuja, INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, described the BVAS as a “game changer,” noting that recent improvements have enhanced the credibility of the electoral process.
Amupitan said the system accredited voters within seconds and effectively prevented multiple voting, as attempts at re-accreditation were immediately blocked by the device.
He acknowledged voter apathy as a recurring challenge but said the mock exercise also served as a voter education and mobilisation tool. While urging political parties to intensify voter awareness, he appealed to FCT residents to come out and participate in the elections.
On logistics, the INEC chairman confirmed that all non-sensitive materials had been deployed. He also assured that the BVAS would function smoothly in areas with poor network coverage, with presiding officers equipped with mobile hotspots and devices fitted with internal security features.
Amupitan added that INEC was awaiting the final harmonisation of the Electoral Act amendment on electronic transmission of results.
He also visited Government Secondary School, Garki, Area 10, where Supervisory Presiding Officers were undergoing training, urging them to adhere strictly to electoral guidelines and maintain integrity on election day.
Some of the polling units visited were within the Abuja Municipal Area Council, including Area 10 in Garki and parts of Wuse Zone III and Wuse I.
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