By EMMANUEL OLONIRUHA

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says all configured Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices will undergo a six-day nationwide stress-testing exercise from Oct. 23 to Oct. 28, ahead of the 2027 General Elections.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja during a World News Conference and National Stakeholders’ Meeting, convened to mark 100 days to the 2027 general election.

Amupitan described the stress-test as part of a comprehensive quality assurance framework designed to evaluate the hardware, software, and operational stability of the upgraded BVAS devices under simulated election conditions.

Speaking on the upgraded BVAS and ICT Roadmap to ensure optimal performance across the country’s 176,846 polling units, the INEC Chairman confirmed that the commission acquired 57,000 new BVAS units.

He noted that the device had undergone extensive software hardening, battery optimisation, and biometric calibration to eliminate manual manipulation and prevent accreditation bypass.

“A nationwide audit of BVAS inventory, with activation testing and GPS tracking verification, has just been concluded.

“State-level device configuration, with enrolment onto the SureMDM platform will soon commence,” he said.

He added: “A six-day stress-testing exercise across all configured BVAS devices has been scheduled for Oct. 23 to Oct. 28.

“Technical support capacity: State-level training of Registration Area Technical Support personnel (RATECHs) has been scheduled for November 2026, culminating in a strategic briefing on Dec. 13.

“Local Government Area readiness audits will follow on Jan 13 and 14, 2027”.

Amupitan also disclosed that Automated AI auditing tools were being integrated into INEC results verification process under a five-pillar “AI Governance Framework,’’ operating under mandatory human oversight.

“An AI Governance framework/Policy is being finalised by the Commission.

“In partnership with international technology leaders, we are integrating AI-driven anomaly detection tools to monitor database traffic and shield our public portals against cyber intrusions or unauthorised alterations,’’ he said.

Amupitan added that a nationwide mock accreditation and election simulation would hold in November 2026 to further test hardware, field personnel, and network protocols

On logistics deployment, he disclosed that INEC had reviewed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with key transport unions, including the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).

The framework, according to the INEC chairman guarantees the early pooling, vetting, and mobilisation of over 100,000 vehicles and 4,000 boats to move personnel and materials.

“For difficult-to-access terrains in the Niger Delta, Lake Chad Basin, and high-altitude areas in the North-East and North-West, we have secured dedicated speedboats, 4×4 off-road vehicles, and local pack transport.

“Escort protocols and maritime safety equipment, including life jackets and waterproof material containers, are being procured,’’ Amupitan said.

To guarantee that polling units open at 7:30am nationwide, he said that all non-sensitive materials were being pre-batched to LGA hubs prior to each election.

“Sensitive materials will move from CBN vaults to LGAs 72 hours before polls, reaching all 8,838 Registration Area Centres (RACs) and Super RACs by 4:00pm on the eve of the election,’’ Amupitan said.

On the execution of the plans for the elections, he said that the commission had successfully executed nine out of 14 major activities planned for 2027 general election.

“INEC has moved decisively from planning into execution. Our materials are in production, technology is undergoing rigorous quality assurance, our register is finalised for public display, and our workforce is being systematically trained.

“As we begin this 100-day sprint to the 2027 General Election, we reassure the nation and the international community of our total commitment to neutrality, operational excellence, and the sacred integrity of the ballot box.

“Let us work together to make the 2027 General Election a moment of pride for our great nation,’’ Amupitan said. (NAN)

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