OYO LG: “WITHOUT BVAS, OYSIEC IS NOT TRUSTED”….IB.N.L.G APC CANDIDATE, ADENIRAN. “WE CANNOT USE BVAS”…. OYSIEC

The Chairmanship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the forthcoming Local Government election in Ibarapa North Local Government, Hon. Musbau Adeniran has also passed vote of no confidence in the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission, (OYSIEC), allaying fear that the empire is not trusted by most political parties in the state, except the ruling party, PDP.

Speaking with Asako news on Monday, 11th March, 2024, the flagbearer said candidates of the APC and other parties partaking in the forthcoming Local Government election doubts the credibility of OYSIEC conduct, without the Bimodal Voters Accreditation System- BVAS.

According to Adeniran:

“Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission-OYSIEC body is not trusted by most parties in the state except the PDP, and that is because we believed the body is under the control of the Governor of the state who is PDP member and as well some people around him.

“In the politics of the current Oyo state government, some personel were known to have unexpected powers and they are in fact the ones who we heard have been promising victory to all the 33 LG Chairmanship aspirants in the PDP so far these candidates do remit some refreshment or its equivalent for them.

“The fear now lingers in some of us in the APC and other parties partaking in the election because of the pressure we perceived were mounted from these people of the PDP on the OYSIEC.

“But Bimodal Voters Accreditation System-BVAS machine, a recent development introduced in the just concluded National, Governorship and Assembly elections by the INEC would have been a solid hope for we the candidates who have no power against that of the masses, In Oyo of today, BVAS is the voice for the voiceless, It assures that collation of whatever results from whichever area at the polls is both easy and well recorded and documented online for everyone to see. We wish this election results could be digitalised and not analogue as it is in the ancient days ago.

“More importantly, Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) introduction will ensure that the number of Accredited votes and the number of votes tally to assume validity. Also, the BVAS machine will claim victory by ensuring that Over-voting is not observed at each polling units.

“For example, veto power from the Ibarapa North Current chairman who is vying for second term in conjunction with the support of forces of such top notches earlier mentioned will compel and dragoon the OYSIEC officials to do against the will of the people thereby disenfranchising the right of the citizens indirectly and in some other cases directly. Be it returning officer or electoral chairman, any pressure can be mount on them to support rigging but if BVAS is Used, the hopes become high.

“How how trust worthy the OYSIEC be depends on their readiness to introduce the Bimodal Voters Accreditation system(BVAS). Albeit, if the OYSIEC refuses to employ BVAS in her electoral processes or they finally think it is okay, the will of God will always come to pass”, he concluded.

Meanwhile, the chairman, Oyo State Independent National Electoral Commission (OYSIEC), Mr Isiaka Olagunju has explained why the Biometric Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) cannot be used for the forthcoming local government in the State.

In a report credited to Nigerian Tribune, dated March 10, 2024, Olagunju disclosed, against the backdrop of the stance of some political parties that the non-use of the BVAS may deter their participation in the election.

According to the report, the OYSIEC boss said it had last October requested for the BVAS from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), through the state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), but it was yet to get any response.

Olagunju said he had conveyed the development to the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), as he added that the use of BVAS was not a conclusive proof of a credible election.

He, however, pointed out in the report, that if the INEC, who has custody of the BVAS, releases the device to the state electoral body, it would not hesitate to use device for the local government election.

According Olagunju: “BVAS is not in the custody of OYSIEC. It is in the custody of INEC. We approached INEC for permission to use BVAS since last year October through the REC of Oyo State.

“I was informed that our request would be forwarded to INEC headquarters in Abuja as OYSIEC is the first to request for the use of BVAS in LG election.

“Till now INEC has not responded. We can’t wait ad-infinitum. BVAS is not even a conclusive proof of a credible election. To your question specifically, we can’t use BVAS.

“At all our meetings with the political parties, I reiterated my efforts in getting BVAS. I cannot give what I don’t have. In as much as I would like to use BVAS for more transparency but I am incapacitated by the circumstances beyond my control.

“IPAC new exco was at OYSIEC office last week and they understood the circumstance.

“We cannot use BVAS for the election because I definitely knew INEC will not release it because it is the exclusive property of INEC and this is a state election.

“And if the state wants to acquire BVAS, it is costly. So, for this election, we are not using BVAS.

“We did it in 2021, just bring your means of identification, your Permanent Voter Card; once your name is on the voter register, you will vote.