In a recent statement, the Concerned Kogi Citizens Forum has called on the National Assembly and members of the House of Representatives to mandate the use of the Bi-Modal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) for all elections, as reported by Nigerian Tribune.
The group expressed concerns about the recent bypass of BVAS technology in elections.
The group protested in the Federal Capital Territory, moving from the Unity Fountain in Maitama to the Federal Ministry of Justice and the National Assembly.
They urged the two government arms to ensure BVAS is mandatory to protect the nation’s democracy.
In their protest letter titled “LETTER OF PROTEST AGAINST BVAS FRAUD,” they stated that they protest letter is premised on one issue which is the recent BVAS fraud in the just concluded Kogi State Governorship Election of the 11th day of November, 2023 where the BVAS Technology was bypassed.
The group demanded that INEC chairman, Professor Mahmoud Yakubu, be summoned before the senate.
They want him to explain why he allowed his staff and legal team to defend the alleged malpractices against BVAS.
The group expressed their loss of confidence in professors conducting elections and proposed a change to other institutions.
Additionally, they demanded that INEC declare election results from the IREV only after confirming the exact number of accredited voters on BVAS and criticized the role of professors in elections.
“We demand that the INEC chairman, Professor Mahmoud Yakubu be summoned before the senate to explain to Nigerians why he authorized his staff and legal team to defend the malpractices that were carried out against their {INEC’s} own process and creation (BVAS machines)."
“We have lost hope in Professors conducting our elections and we demand that the Institutions be changed immediately. Our Professors have let us down."
“We call for a change to other institutions like Retired Soldiers, Pastors, Imams, Traditionalists, etc to replace Professors during our elections._
“We further demand that INEC should declare election results from the IREV and only after confirming the exact number of accredited voters on BVAS."
“We strongly oppose Professors harming our institutions. Professors have displayed their incompetence in the conduct of our elections over the years and we demand for a change,” he said.