The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that it is collaborating with major network service providers, including MTN, Glo, Airtel, and 9Mobile, to address any potential issues that may arise during the upcoming elections. INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, made this statement during a media briefing in Abuja on Friday. He emphasized that the commission has implemented significant measures to strengthen and safeguard its systems and processes against malicious attacks. Yakubu noted that INEC possesses extensive experience in the transmission of election results through the iREV system, while the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) requires online connectivity only at the point of uploading results from polling units.
Yakubu reassured the public that INEC is aware of the vulnerabilities that its resources may face but has taken appropriate precautions. He stated, “We have taken sufficient steps to fortify and protect our systems and processes. While we are mindful of cybersecurity concerns, we are confident in our ability to manage these risks.” He highlighted that INEC has successfully transmitted results in real-time for 105 constituencies across the country, affirming the commission’s capability to respond to any challenges that may arise. He clarified that the BVAS is not an electronic voting machine and will operate offline on election day, requiring internet connectivity only for result transmission from polling units.
Regarding the omission of the Labour Party logo on House of Representatives ballot papers in Lagos, Yakubu reiterated INEC’s commitment to adhering to court orders. He mentioned that the commission has tasked its legal office with reviewing the numerous judgments it has received, which have been arriving almost daily. He pointed out that the Labour Party had served INEC with 70 processes related to candidate nominations in a single day. In Lagos, the commission accepted nominations for 13 out of 24 Federal Constituencies from the party based on court orders, and it will respond accordingly to the court’s directives.
Additionally, Inspector General of Police Usman Baba announced that 425,106 security operatives will be deployed to ensure a secure electoral process. This figure excludes members of the Armed Forces of Nigeria and includes personnel from various agencies such as the Nigeria Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Federal Road Safety Commission, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Nigerian Correctional Service, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, and Nigeria Immigration Service. Baba detailed the distribution of personnel, stating, “In the Police, we have 310,973; Nigeria Security and Civil Defence – 51,000; Federal Road Safety Corps – 21,000; Nigerian Correctional Service – 11,336; National Drug Law Enforcement Agency – 9,447; Economic and Financial Crimes Commission – 350; Nigeria Immigration Service – 21,000.”
Furthermore, Baba indicated that orderlies assigned to Very Important Personalities (VIPs) will be withdrawn during the elections. He instructed that even if VIPs are escorted to polling centers, their security personnel should maintain a distance to allow them to cast their votes privately. He emphasized, “Just like in any other election, we expect our VIPs to leave their armed bodyguards behind when going to polling stations. If they are escorted, those escorts should stay at a distance while the VIP votes and then escort them back afterward.” He assured that all officers have been informed of these protocols to ensure compliance during the electoral process.
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