The Nigerian Civil Society Situation Room has expressed displeasure at plans by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to reconfigure the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) used during the recent Presidential election.
The group is worried about how INEC will preserve data collected during the Presidential and National Assembly elections of February 25, 2023.
The Situation Room, which comprises 70 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), works in support of credible and transparent elections in Nigeria.
In a statement, the group said electoral accountability required that information collected during elections “are preserved” for use in the audit and review of the election.
“In the light of the disputations that have emerged and the controversy surrounding the 2023 general elections, Situation Room is asking INEC to ensure that its records and data related to the election are held safely and securely to ensure its use for the purposes of scrutiny and accountability”.
“Reports indicate that the BVAS may need to be reconfigured or even erased for the upcoming State Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections due on Saturday, 11th March 2023,” it said.
The statement cites the CSOs as expressing worry that this could further pose “additional credibility questions” over the integrity and conduct of the 2023 general election.
Writing by Julian Osamoto; Editing by Tony Okerafor