Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, on Saturday, said the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) functioned almost perfectly across polling units during the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections.
Amupitan, who monitored the exercise in parts of Garki, Wuse and the Abuja city centre, expressed satisfaction with the technology’s performance, noting that it enhanced the credibility of the electoral process.
According to him, all the BVAS machines deployed for the polls operated effectively, assuring residents that their votes would count.
“With the performance of the BVAS, the voices of FCT residents will be heard loud and clear,” he said.
The INEC chairman described the exercise as largely peaceful, though turnout varied across locations. While some polling units recorded impressive voter participation, others witnessed low turnout as of midday.
He commended voters for their orderly conduct, describing it as a positive sign of Nigeria’s democratic growth.
Amupitan acknowledged isolated cases of late arrival of materials in some areas, but said such challenges had been identified and were being addressed promptly.
Officials at the FCT Election Monitoring Centre, he added, were collating reports and responding to issues in real time to ensure a smooth process.
“As of now, we are receiving encouraging reports from polling units across the six area councils. The atmosphere is calm,” he stated.
He also praised the professionalism of security agencies deployed for the election, explaining that only individuals without proper accreditation tags encountered difficulties with security personnel.
Amupitan assured that lessons from the FCT Area Council elections would further strengthen preparations for future polls.