It looked as if Primate Elijah Ayodele of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church wanted attention when he warned the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) to take its stand on ensuring BVAS technology is used during the 2023 general elections but the APC have opened the eyes of Nigerians to what the man of God saw before making such warning.
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Publicity Secretary openly noted recently that they are not in support of the BVAS technology to run the election because ‘Nigeria is not yet matured’ for that kind of technology.
This statement means so much as it came from the ruling party, this is definitely something to be worried about because if the ruling party can speak against a technology that will eradicate rigging in our elections then something is not right.
Little wonder Primate Ayodele made the statement last week, asking INEC not to fall for the tricks of any political party that wants to stop the use of BVAS technology during the election. He specially referred to the INEC chairman, telling him that he has a huge role to play in the election.
These were his words; “INEC must not allow BVAS to be removed for the 2023 general elections; the chairman must take his stand because this will give him an edge. The election is crucial, it will let us know if Nigeria will remain one, so the INEC chairman must be patriotic. He has a huge role to play.”
As little as this message is, the pronouncement of the ruling party has called for INEC’s need to strictly adhere to it because of the repercussions that may follow if compromise sets in.
The chairman of the electoral commission needs to lay down a legacy for free and fair elections with 2023 general elections because if it is anything short of this, Nigeria may not be the same again, just as Primate Ayodele said the election is very crucial.
INEC should give it all it takes to ensure BVAS technology is deployed, just as Primate Ayodele advised.
