Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Electronic Voting System: An Appraisal of the use of BVAS in 2023 General Election in Enugu State

Obiora, Onu Richard and Ifedi, Francisca Obiageli and Umeh, Lucy Chinwe (2025) Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Electronic Voting System: An Appraisal of the use of BVAS in 2023 General Election in Enugu State. Innovations (82). pp. 558-577.

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Abstract

The 2023 general elections in Nigeria marked a transformative phase in the country’s electoral system with the adoption of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS). This technology, introduced by INEC, aimed to enhance transparency, reduce electoral fraud, and rebuild public confidence. In Enugu State, the BVAS played a crucial role in voter accreditation and result collation, representing a significant advancement over previous systems like the Smart Card Reader. Despite the promise of enhanced transparency and credibility with the introduction of the BVAS technology, concerns emerged over its functionality, particularly in the area of result transmission. Technical glitches during the uploading of polling unit results to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IREV) raised questions about the reliability of the system and fueled skepticism among some voters and stakeholders. The study's objective is to evaluate the effects of the innovative electronic voting device, known as the INEC Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), which was created and used for the 2023 General Elections on voter turnout and election results in Nigeria, with an emphasis on Enugu State. The BVAS technology was developed with the accompanying functionality to remove direct human control and intervention in the electoral process. It was an advancement over the Smart Card Reader technology used in prior elections. The study's theoretical frameworks were the Rational Choice Theory of Election and the Innovation Diffusion Theory. Both primary and secondary data formed the basis for the research approach. In the study, Chi square was utilized after the survey research instrument was used for the original data collection. The analysis showed that the idea of the usage of BVAS had a positive effect on public trust on the umpire and led to increase in voter turnout and perception of transparency in the accreditation/voting system, regardless the failure in the uploading functionality due to glitch. The study concludes that the use of BVAS be improved upon or at least sustained to deepen the transparency of the process, sustain confidence in the electoral process, as well as supporting efforts to address the widespread problem of voter passiveness in the Nigerian electoral system. The study's findings suggest, consequently, an extensive examination of the Electoral Act to allow for mandatory requirement of transmitting polling units (PUs) mandated uploading of polling unit (PU) results to the INEC Result Viewing platform (IREV) using BVAS thus minimizing human interference in Election Day outcome

Item Type:	Article
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General)
Divisions:	Faculty of Management and Social Sciences
Depositing User:	Uchenna Eneogwe
Date Deposited:	30 Mar 2026 13:45
Last Modified:	30 Mar 2026 13:45
URI:	http://eprints.gouni.edu.ng/id/eprint/5598

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