PEPC: BVAS failed to transmit results, INEC adhoc staff admits

By Vivian Okejeme Abuja

Two subpoenaed witnesses of the presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has admitted that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) failed to transmit results of the election after the collation.
The witness, Friday Egwuma, and Grace Timothy, respectively said this while testifying Thursday, at the 2023 Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC), sitting in Abuja.
The Subpoened witnesses, both ad-hoc staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said that the BVAS machine allocated to them developed system error immediately results of the Senate and House of Representatives aspects of the poll were freely transmitted.
Testifying before the court, the PW11 and PW12 explained that they had to resort to other means of getting the results through when it became clear that the BVAS machines would not help them.
Led in evidence by Atiku’s lead counsel Chief Chris Uche SAN, Egwuma an ex Corp member, said he was a Presiding Officer in a polling unit in Abia State while Grace Timothy, also an ex Corp member, performed her duty in Plateau State.
Under cross examination by counsel to INEC, Mr Abubakar Mahmud SAN Egwuma explained he resorted to off line system in place of the BVAS machines.
In the same vein, Grace Timothy, told the court that the greatest challenge she experienced during the election was the uploading of the presidential election results into the I- rev portal.
The witnesses were also cross examined by Chief Wole Olanipekun SAN who stood for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Prince Lateef Fagbemi SAN who represented the All Progressives Congress APC.
Hearing on the matter continues, tomorrow June 9.