Edo Gov Poll: INEC Tenders BVAS Machine Before Tribunal

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has tendered Bimodal Voters Accreditation Machine before the Edo State governorship election tribunal in Abuja.

Anthony Itodo, a senior technical officer in INEC’s ICT department, who appeared before the court on subpoena, issued by the Tribunal on January 9, informed the Tribunal that he brought a total of 148 BVAS devices from 133 polling units.

Counsel for the PDP, Robert Emukpoeruo, told the tribunal that the actual numbers of the machines ought to be verified due to the number difference.

Itodo, however, added that some of the polling units had two BVAS devices.

In their submissions, counsel for Governor Monday Okpebolor, Onyechi Ikpeazu and Emmanuel Ukala for the APC, stressed that there was no need to stretch the BVAS machines issue out of proportion.

In a bid to clarify the issue, counsel to INEC, Kanu Agabi, confirmed to the tribunal that although there were 151 units, only 148 of them requested for the BVAS and only 148 related to the election.

Emukpoeruo then applied for the BVAs machine to be tendered as evidence to the tribunal, which was objected to by the defendants.

The panel, however, admitted them as evidence.