2023: Majority Of Nigerian Youths Ignorant About BVAS, Analyst Charges INEC, Others On Education

Fresh information has emerged that several Nigerian youths might not be aware of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines to be used at the 2023 general election and subsequently.

Naija News gathered from a cross-section of some young Nigerians interacted with in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital that tendencies are high that the majority of Nigerian youths elsewhere might have no idea about the new electoral reform.

This comes against the backdrop of how young people in the country have continued to glamour a change in leadership in the country from what they call the old hands to the new hands.

This platform recalls that the 2022 Electoral Act was signed into law in February by President Muhammadu Buhari after four different attempts.

The new Act that automatically repealed the Electoral Act No. 6, 2010, which is the former one has one ultimate mandate, which is to ensure sanity in the conduct of elections in the country.

Prominent among the latest reform is the use of the BVAS which most political commentators have described as a game-changer in the electoral process.

However, the majority of the young people Naija News randomly spoke with said they only have a fair idea about the existence of the technology, while others said they know nothing about it, and even if it existed they don’t trust it.

A cross-section of those who spoke with us had the following to say.

For Christiana, she said “I am yet to collect my PVC, but I intend to vote, I heard that INEC has improved the voting process, but I don’t know what it’s about, but seems I heard it related to electronic voting, but I don’t think it’s our thing here in Nigeria. I am looking forward to a free and fair election even though it has never been our thing in Nigeria”

Another person identified as Oluwasegun submitted that “I have a PVC, I definitely will vote, but I don’t really know much about the INEC BVAS, but based on the update I had I think INEC is doing something great with the technology. With the information I have about it I think it would make a lot of difference in the election.

“I believe with the INEC machine, elections for me would be between 80 to 90 % free and fair, it would also create more security against electoral rigging. Prediction of the election is not certain, but I am sure I am casting my vote for Peter Obi.”

On her own part Mrs Shola Akinwunmi observed that “Yes I have heard about the INEC BVAS, but I don’t trust the system in Nigeria, no matter what they do even with the machine, if they want to rig the elections even without manipulating the machines, they can do it. I am not certain elections would be similar to the past but I feel anything can happen, and I expect a difference.

“I also think a particular party can’t do it, all we have to do is just call upon God to take over, only God can do it. I don’t have a PVC and I decided not to collect because I don’t want to vote for anyone.”

Another person identified as Funke Ogunbiyi also told Naija News that “I have a PVC, but I won’t be voting, I don’t know anything about the INEC BVAS. But I will urge Nigerians to vote for who they feel can do the job rather than being instigated by whatever means.”

While Tosin stated that “I am not aware of the INEC BVAS to be used for the election next year. is it true? I will prefer any new development that will eliminate rigging if there is, but I can’t come out to vote. I have even misplaced my PVC, and if I would be replacing it, it’s not for election. Personally, I don’t have any candidate, but anyone that wins the election should bring good change.”

Olamide, who seems to be the only person who really knew what the INEC BVAS machine was, didn’t trust entirely the technology would eliminate rigging of elections totally as circulated by the commission.

He explained that “Yes I know about the BVAS, it’s a safe electronic machine that INEC proposes to be used for the election. Either they use your biometrics or facial recognition to vote when you have your PVC. and to me, it’s reliable because I believe it would reduce the level of rigging and electoral malpractices.

“I expect about 70% free and fair election with BVAS. With BVAS, it doesn’t mean there won’t be rigging at all, it would be minimal. Why I think there would be rigging is that the voters register INEC released recently, we found there were a lot of under-age pictures and date present, with what was released, it’s glaring they are under age, if they allow those people to vote, people that are not Nigerian were found under it, with that there are still some lapses.

“Recently the APC chairman and the APC presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu are against the use of the technology, and some of their governors, so it’s possible that some of INEC’s plans can be compromised.”

Olayinka Awowale said “I have a PVC but I lost it, if I have I would vote, I don’t know about any INEC BVAS machine, I have not heard anything about it. but if they were, I don’t trust it coming from Nigeria. Elections are always rigged in Nigeria. With or without any machine, elections would be rigged, it’s the normal thing so I don’t think this would be different. “

Mary Dada also said “I don’t know anything about any INEC BVAS, all I heard is that the INEC wants to recruit people to work at the election, and if not for the ASUU strike i would have been serving now. My plan was to rag in money as a corps member during my service at this election but that can’t happen again. I have a PVC, but I won’t be voting.”

While Ayooluwa Daniel stated that “I don’t have a PVC and I don’t know about the INEC BVAS machine, I was a corp member during the 2019 general election and I experienced the use of the card reader then, but from my experience then I don’t trust the system and I don’t trust that the elections would not be rigged even with the said machine.”

Analyst, INEC React

In the wake of the discovery made by Naija News, an Abuja- based public analyst identified as Michael Olaogun said shocking as it may, it is the reality on the ground with young Nigerians.

According to him, there is no doubt that young people are not aware of the existence of such technology adopted by INEC, which is a way of projecting electoral accountability.

Olaogun explained that many young people want electoral accountability but lack the knowledge, which is actually the challenge.

He maintained that the knowledge gap has become a challenge, citing that it might be a recipe for confusion as youth people who are ignorant of the BVAS would see it as a manipulative tool for rigging the elections instead.

The analyst advanced that the “Majority of young Nigerians is not aware of the BVAS, only those working within the civil society, like myself and a few others are privileged to be aware of it.

“Looking at the number of young people aware oF BVAS compared to those not aware, we are non-existing at all. We are insignificant, which tells that the level of ignorance on the subject of BVAS among young people in Nigeria is still very low, very very low. But it is important we all get to know about it.

“If INEC has revealed that there is a surge in the registration pattern of young people in the country, it means young people are beginning to pick interest in issues around democracy elections and governance, however, it doesn’t stop there. It is not enough to register to just be a voter.

“Young people in Nigeria should also yearn to know other things like this BVAS, the provisions of the law, the instruments, the sensitive and nonsensitive apparatus during elections, what is the implication and essence of BVAS, all these factors put together.”

Olaogun, who called on INEC, civil society organisations, and all relevant stakeholders in the electoral process to increase voter education on the subject pointed out that the national orientation by extension can also join in the fight.

Meanwhile, Naija News also understands that the electoral body has admitted that indeed the level of awareness about the BVAS is low.

The commission however said the low awareness of the BVAS is not just limited to only young people in the country but the older generation as well, even some politicians also are ignorant of it.

An INEC Senior Administrative Officer in the Asa local government area of Kwara State, Akanbi Muraina Olaitan told our reporter that “Truth be said, the awareness is low, and sincerely people are not aware of the BVAS, though the commission use to sponsor lots of programmes on voter education that involves relevant stakeholders, political actors.

“But the problem is stakeholders don’t pass the education on to their people because INEC use to persuade them to carry out voter education to people to reduce the number of rejected votes because of ignorance.

“The awareness is poor I have to admit that, some political actors are not even adequately informed, because they don’t know what has been introduced into the electoral process.

“The lack of awareness affects both young and old, it’s not about the young only, it’s about every electorate, both young and old.”

Olaitan, however, revealed that states that are usually involved in stand-alone elections, like that of the recent Ekiti and Osun governorship election, are better informed of new electoral reforms because they don’t join their counterpart in the general election like the forthcoming one.

Therefore he said the electorates in such states are usually more abreast with such reforms like the BVAS because of the peculiarity in the time of their own elections.

He bemoaned that while INEC can’t do all the education, some major political actors are even more ignorant about the electoral process because they don’t follow through, often they believe the last update from the previous general election is what would be used.

Olaitan said it was disappointing to still know that some politicians in the state still think that INEC is going to make use of the card reader from 2019 and would challenge that fact with anyone.