INEC presents BVAS machines in court as Edo tribunal examines over-voting claims

DDM News

The Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal took a significant step today as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) submitted the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines used in the September 21 election.

Diaspora digital media (DDM) reports that this submission followed a subpoena obtained by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after INEC initially refused to release the BVAS devices voluntarily.

The BVAS data is expected to play a crucial role in the tribunal’s proceedings, as preliminary findings suggest discrepancies between the number of accredited voters recorded and the final results announced in multiple polling units.

The PDP has consistently argued that the election was marred by over-voting, with results declared by INEC allegedly exceeding the number of accredited voters in several locations.

The tribunal is now set to analyze the BVAS data to determine the validity of these claims.

During today’s hearing, a PDP witness from Akoko Edo, who served as the collation agent for Ward 9, testified that elections were properly conducted in all 13 polling units within the ward.

However, he stated that the results collated at the ward level did not match those uploaded on INEC’s Result Viewing Portal (IREV).

He further alleged that an altered set of results was presented at the ward collation center, which differed from the actual polling unit records, prompting his refusal to sign the ward collation sheet.

In another testimony, a collation agent from Oredo Local Government presented documents showing that the final results declared by INEC in Ward 1 did not correspond with polling unit figures or data uploaded on IREV.

The tribunal accepted certified true copies (CTCs) of exhibits submitted by the PDP, which allegedly highlight inconsistencies between the officially announced results and polling unit figures.

The admission of BVAS machines into evidence marks a critical point in the case, as the data stored in these devices will serve as a primary benchmark for verifying voter accreditation.

BVAS records provide a verifiable log of the number of accredited voters at each polling unit, making them essential in assessing whether the declared results align with actual voter data.

Legal analysts suggest that the tribunal’s decision to admit the BVAS machines into evidence represents a significant boost for PDP’s candidate, Barr. Asue Ighodalo.

The Supreme Court has previously ruled that BVAS accreditation data serves as the primary source of voter records, further underscoring its importance in electoral disputes.

With the BVAS data now before the tribunal, the review process will be key in determining whether the PDP’s claims of over-voting are substantiated.

If proven, these discrepancies could have major implications for the final outcome of the petition.

Meanwhile, the legal team representing the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Governor Monday Okpebholo is expected to thoroughly examine the BVAS data and other evidence as they prepare their defense.

The APC maintains that the election was conducted in accordance with the law and that any discrepancies highlighted by the PDP do not alter the legitimacy of the final results.

As the tribunal continues to review the BVAS records alongside other electoral materials, both parties will be relying on the evidence to strengthen their arguments.

The coming weeks will be crucial in determining whether the BVAS data supports the PDP’s allegations of over-voting or upholds INEC’s declared results.

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