5 INEC’s BIVAS Devices Declared Missing After Delta Bye-election

• As REC Presents Certificate Of Return To PDP’s Candidate

Five newly introduced Bi-modal Voter Accreditation System (BIVAS) devices deployed for Delta State bye-election in Isoko South constituency 1, have been reported missing.

BIGPENNGR reports that the five devices was snatched at various locations during the bye-election held on Saturday, September 11, 2021.

Resident Electoral Commissioner, INEC Delta State, Pastor Monday Udoh Tom, declared the devices missing on Wednesday when he met with the member-elect for Isoko South constituency 1 in the Delta House of Assembly.

Pastor Udoh-Tom disclosed that the fives devices were snatched during the election from various polling units by hoodlums during the election.

He however tasked the PDP Candidate who was declared as winner of the bye-election, to join hands with the Commission in recovering the 5 BIVAS devices snatched at various locations during the election.

According to Pastor Udoh Tom,  “the five BIVAS devices were snatched by hoodlums at Ward 10 (Irri 1) Polling Unit 007, Isoko South INEC LGA office, Oleh, and Ward 11 (Irri 2) Polling Units 002, 005&018″.

Speaking during the presentation of Certificate of Return to the member-elect, Hon. Evivie Ovuakpoye, on Wednesday September 15, 2021, at INEC State Head Office, Asaba, Pastor Tom decried the snatching of the BIVAS devices, saying it portend bad publicity for the success story of pilot deployment of the device for any election in the history of Nigeria’s electoral process.

According to the INEC’S REC, “the missing BIVAS devices paints a very negative image of its successful deployment as a pilot project in Delta State.

“The devices is not the personal property of the REC. It is for use in Delta State, so forcefully taking them away will negatively impact on the work of the Commission in Delta”, he added.

He appealed to the PDP member-elect to, “go back to the community and help us talk to the youths or whoever may have taken custody of the devices to release them to us. I believe you have a role to play in helping the Commission to ensure quick recovery of the devices”.

Bukola Ojeme, Acting Head of Department, Voter Education and Publicity
INEC Delta State, in a statement, also said that.Pastor Tom further urged Hon Evivie to provide quality representation for the people of the Constituency.

He also tasked Hon. Ovuakpoye on the need to be a unifying force, by healing the wounds of division brought about by the bye-election.

In his remarks, Hon. Ovuakpoye promised to assist the Commission within his capacity in appealing for the return of the devices, adding that, nothing is impossible with prayers.