Bimodal Voter Accreditation System [BVAS] and Electoral Integrity: A Study of the 2023 Gubernatorial Election in Kwara State, Nigeria

Abstract

Most countries of the world currently select their leaders through multi-party elections. However, while multi-party elections have become a regular feature across Africa, the quality of these elections have often been compromised by widespread violence, irregularities, and electoral malpractices such as multiple voting during elections, flagging the integrity of such elections. In response to these flaws and amid increasing public demand for electoral integrity, INEC introduced the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS). This study therefore aimed at investigating the impact of BVAS on electoral integrity using the 2023 Kwara State governorship election as a case study. To achieve its objectives of examining whether the deployment of BVAS during the election has enhanced electoral integrity or not through reduction in multiple voting, improvements in accreditation exercise and reduction in electoral malpractices, the study deployed the use of survey to elicit quantitative data from 400 respondents across the state. Findings reveal that BVAS significantly reduced multiple voting, improved the accreditation exercise and reduced electoral malpractices, thus enhancedelectoral integrity. The study therefore concludes that the deployment of BVAS in the 2023
Kwara State governorship election has enhanced electoral integrity; and recommends that INEC should institutionalize BVAS as a permanent component of Nigeria’s electoral framework to be supported by robust internet connectivity and power infrastructure, especially in rural areas.