Bisina Somto, PBA Journalism MenteeNational Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Abdullahi Adamu, has denied kicking against the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deploy Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Results Viewing Portal (IReV), for the 2023 general elections.
This is coming hours after media reports that Adamu was against INEC’s moves to deploy BVAS and electronic transmission of results during the next year elections.
A statement signed by the APC National Publicity Secretary, Barr. Felix Morka, said, “media reports that Chairman Adamu kicked against INEC’s decision on results is patently false, and constitutes an unfair misrepresentation of the National Chairman’s comments.”
Morka stated that Adamu only expressed reservations over the deployment of electronic transmission of results, as some part of Nigeria lack adequate electricity and telecommunications coverage.
“To be clear, Chairman Adamu did not kick against the deployment of BVAS or electronic transmission of results as erroneously reported by sections of the media.”
“The APC administration of President Muhammadu Buhari midwifed the successful reform of the Electoral Act, the introduction of (BVAS) among other technological innovation, and has superintended the conduct of credible, free, fair and transparent elections in Edo, Anambra, Ekiti and Osun States.”
Adamu had while presenting the APC’s views on the 2023 general election to a Commonwealth delegation led by Lindiwe Maleleka, political Adviser, Commonwealth Secretariat, at the APC National secretariat, Abuja on Wednesday, questioned the readiness of INEC in deploying the technology of BIVAS and IReV during the next year poll.
He said “Our concern is how ready are we to deploy some of these technologies as regards transmission because we are taking a major step in transmitting election results in real time. To transmit results, every part of the nation Nigeria, I’m not sure that the network covers it. I know that even in parts of Abuja there is no network and we have from now till February when in substantial parts of the country there is no electricity. INEC must assure us 100 percent that as at when due in transmitting results they are ready because they spoke about recharging batteries but we had in previous elections when it says it can’t recharge.”
Adamu’s fear was re-echoed by the party’s National Organizing Secretary, Suleiman Argungu, who identified stable power supply as one of the obstacles facing the innovation.
Argungu also cited his home state of Kebbi as an example of an area where such technology could experience some hitches on the day of election.
Morka however, said APC remains totally committed to electoral credibility.
“Our Party and Government remain committed to the highest levels of electoral transparency and democratic consolidation in our country”. Morka said.
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