By David Kabiyesi
Facts have emerged why Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) barred Labour Party from witnessing the reconfiguration of its Bimodal Voter Accreditation System machines.
Worried that vital information might be tampered with by INEC, Labour had demandedthat the party be allowed to witness the configuration. But INEC stated in clear terms that all data back-up of BVAS is strictly an internal affair and would therefore not in any way welcome outsiders.
The Chief Spokesman for the Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign Council, Yunusa Tanko, had also argued that for the sake of transparency, INEC should “invite everybody with their technical experts to see what the commission intends to back up.”
In his reaction INEC press secretary, Rotimi Oyekanmi political parties are not allowed to witness BVAS reconfiguration.
“The reconfiguration or data back-up processes of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System machines is strictly an internal affair of the Independent National Electoral Commission, that no external eyes are allowed to witness.
“Of course, political parties are free to witness runt-run of the BVAS, and they did during the mock accreditation exercise that we carried out before the general elections.
“However, it ly curious that the Labour Party would express any desire to witness suan activity. What exactly do they want to see? Would the party also want to witness when ballot papers and result sheets are designed and printed?
