By Omobolanle Shosanya
Professor Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has exonerated the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) of any blame in the mix-up that now pitch Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke and former Governor Gboyega Oyetola.
He said the commission has taken away vital lessons from the the entire saga.
Prof Yakubu who spoke when he led INEC chiefs to monitor Saturday’s Mock accreditation exercise in the Federal Capital Territory said one the critical lessons from the Osun state gubernatorial election is that accreditation figures would now be transmitted simultaneously with results from polling units to the result viewing portal (IREV).
He added:”The BVAS has never failed anywhere. And obviously as you have seen here the machine actually never failed. I wouldn’t like to comment on a live matter in court it is subjudice.
“But in every situation the commission learns and carries over the experience from what has happened so as to improving the processes for the next election. We have learned some lessons from what happened and one of the lessons is to be able to transmit the accreditation data. So we have a sample results sheet here that will transmit the accreditation data. But there is no results sheets because people have not voted ( in the mock exercise).
” So on the IREV portal, we have created a new URL for those of you that are on the Result Viewing portal. And if you go home after 2: 30 You will see the result of the mock transmitted from the 437 polling units nationwide, including the details of accreditation and we are going to transmit both the results on election day and the accreditation figures
“So the two will run, by this we are given assurance assurance that on election day, both the accreditation data and the actual votes cast will be transmitted simultaneously and accurately”.
He rated the mock accreditation exercise in FCT and elsewhere in the state high,noting that the purpose set out by the commission has been achieved .
Speaking after inspecting exercise in Bwari Central polling Unit,Prof Yakubu said that he was satisfied with the outcome, noting that speed of the accreditation process, estimated at 30 seconds is satisfactory.
