Ideato North: Group Raises Alarm Over Alleged Illegal BVAS Accreditation, Demands INEC Probe

The Ideato Progressive Alliance (IPA), a political watchdog in Ideato North Local Government Area of Imo State, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to investigate an alleged unauthorised voter accreditation exercise in some communities ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The group alleged that individuals suspected to be INEC officials moved through communities, including Urualla, late Wednesday, carrying out an illegal accreditation exercise using the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).

In a statement sent to our correspondent, IPA President Ferdinand Nwosu said residents were allegedly asked to present their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), given ₦5,000 each, and had their voter details collected. They were also reportedly instructed to thumbprint an electronic device identified by eyewitnesses as a BVAS machine.

The alliance claimed that four vehicles were involved in the operation and said it had obtained video recordings which it intends to release as evidence. It described the alleged exercise as a serious threat to the credibility of the electoral process in Ideato North.

IPA expressed concern that the collection of voter information, payment of money and alleged biometric capture could be used to generate unauthorised accreditation records or compromise BVAS data ahead of the January 16, 2027 elections.

The group warned that such activities, if established, could create discrepancies between actual voter turnout and electronic accreditation records, potentially leading to electoral disputes. It also raised concerns about possible unauthorised access to BVAS devices meant for deployment in the constituency.

The alliance called on INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, to order an immediate and transparent investigation. It demanded that the commission identify those involved, clarify whether the operation had official authorisation and conduct an independent forensic audit of all BVAS devices scheduled for use in Ideato.

IPA also urged the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services and other security agencies to investigate the alleged operation, trace the four vehicles, preserve the video evidence and prosecute anyone found culpable.

The group further asked INEC to publicly explain the circumstances surrounding the alleged use of its equipment in the communities. It warned that the commission must ensure that no compromised device or manipulated accreditation record is used during the election.

Meanwhile, IPA urged residents of Ideato North to protect their PVCs and remain alert to suspicious electoral activities. It advised voters not to surrender their personal information or participate in any accreditation exercise outside procedures officially announced by INEC.

The alliance maintained that the outcome of the 2027 election must reflect the free choice of voters, rather than what it described as questionable operations or manipulated BVAS records. INEC’s response to the allegations was not included in the statement.