On Monday, Benue State Governor Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia stated that he has no objections to using the Bimodal Voters Accreditation Machine (BVAS) for local government elections in the state.
Alia, represented by his Technical Adviser on Publicity and Strategy, Solomon Iorpev, emphasized that his primary concern is ensuring the election’s credibility.
This statement addresses claims made by Dr. John Chen, the former chairman of the Benue State Independent Electoral Commission (BSIEC). In a phone interview, Chen accused the state government of being uncomfortable with his plans to use BVAS for the local elections.
He detailed how he faced opposition after requesting BVAS from the Resident Electoral Commissioner of INEC and sought technical support to ensure a transparent election.
In response, Iorpev asserted that Governor Alia is committed to a transparent election process, regardless of whether BVAS is used. He clarified that the state government does not control BVAS, which are managed exclusively by INEC, and emphasized that the governor has no intention of interfering with BSIEC’s operations.
The controversy follows Governor Alia’s recent removal of the BSIEC chairman, recommended by the state assembly due to poor judgment. A new chairman, Richard Telumun, has been appointed. The local government election has been rescheduled from July 6 to November 16, 2024, due to logistical issues. Chen expressed no regret about his removal, valuing his integrity over becoming involved in political disputes.