INEC unveils 57,000 BVAS machines, warns against attacks

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced plans to strengthen preparations for the 2027 general elections with 57,000 newly procured Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices and improved security measures for electoral personnel.

The Commission's Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, disclosed this on Saturday, October 31, 2026, during INEC's South-South Zonal Interactive Meeting with Staff and Readiness Assessment in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

He warned that attacks on electoral officials, including National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members deployed for election duties, would attract the full weight of the law.

Amupitan also said the Commission was auditing its electronic result management systems to strengthen transparency in the transmission of results through the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal.

Addressing logistical challenges in the South-South, he disclosed that INEC had finalised a Memorandum of Understanding with the Maritime Transporters Union to facilitate the timely and secure transportation of election personnel and materials to riverine communities.

He acknowledged the difficulties posed by the region's creeks, coastal settlements and waterways, stressing the need for effective logistics to ensure smooth election operations.

The INEC chairman further reaffirmed the Commission's collaboration with security agencies through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) to protect voters, electoral materials and personnel.

Amupitan disclosed that the South-South region has 15,823,550 registered voters, including 3,736,434 in Rivers State.

He stressed that no eligible voter should be disenfranchised because of administrative negligence or logistical failures.

On the preliminary voters' register published online, he said the Commission was examining concerns over suspicious photographs and would take corrective action based on verified findings.

He urged members of the public to participate in the display, claims and objections process ahead of the publication of the final voters' register scheduled for December 15, 2026.

The chairman also highlighted welfare measures for INEC staff, including enhanced salaries, hazard and field allowances as well as a 150 per cent increase in monthly allocations for state offices, effective July 1, 2026.