BVAS Works Without Internet? What Former INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu’s Revelation Means for Nigerian Elections and Transparency

In a revelation that is already stirring debate among Nigerians, former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, has clarified that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) does not require internet connectivity to accredit voters on election day.
According to Yakubu, the BVAS device functions offline during the voting process and only needs internet access later to upload election results to INEC’s server. This clarification addresses a long-standing source of confusion and suspicion among voters, especially in a country where election credibility has often been questioned.
How BVAS Actually Works: Separating Facts from Fear
The BVAS machine was introduced as a technological solution to Nigeria’s persistent electoral fraud problems. Its primary functions include:
Verifying voters using fingerprint or facial recognition
Accrediting eligible voters before voting
Recording the total number of accredited voters
Uploading polling unit results to INEC’s Result Viewing Portal (IReV)
Yakubu emphasized that accreditation itself does not depend on internet connectivity. This means that even in rural or remote areas with poor network coverage, eligible voters can still be verified and allowed to vote.
This is a crucial point because network failure has often been blamed for delays, confusion, or even manipulation during elections.
Why Internet Still Matters Later
While accreditation happens offline, the internet becomes important after voting ends. BVAS is used to upload polling unit results to INEC’s central database. This step is critical for transparency, allowing citizens, political parties, and observers to view results in near real-time.
It was this upload process that faced challenges during the 2023 general elections, leading to widespread public anger, distrust, and allegations of manipulation. Many Nigerians questioned why results could not be uploaded promptly if the system was designed to ensure transparency.
Yakubu’s clarification now confirms that accreditation and result transmission are two separate processes, and network issues do not affect the ability of citizens to vote — but they can affect how quickly results become publicly visible.
What This Means for Nigerians: Transparency Must Go Beyond Words
For millions of Nigerians who have endured decades of flawed elections, technology like BVAS represents hope. The promise was simple: eliminate ghost voters, stop ballot stuffing, and ensure that the person who wins is truly the person the people chose.
However, trust in the system depends not just on technology, but on how it is used.
If BVAS can work offline to accredit voters, then excuses related to network failure should not be used to justify irregularities in voter verification. At the same time, INEC must ensure that result uploads happen promptly and transparently, because delays create suspicion and undermine public confidence.
Nigerians deserve an electoral system where:
Every valid vote counts
Results reflect the will of the people
Technology is used to protect democracy, not create loopholes
The Bigger Picture: Technology Alone Cannot Save Democracy
BVAS is a powerful tool, but it is not magic. Its effectiveness depends on the integrity of those operating the system and the transparency of the electoral process.
Mahmood Yakubu’s clarification is important, but it also raises deeper questions Nigerians are asking:
If accreditation works offline without internet, then what truly caused the delays and controversies during past elections?
As Nigeria moves toward future elections, citizens are watching closely. They want more than explanations — they want accountability, transparency, and proof that their votes truly matter.
Because in a democracy, technology should serve the people — not confuse them.