Reports have emerged that Senator Adams Oshiomhole, alongside an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) expert in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) simply known as Mr Itodo, are currently in tampering with Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines in the INEC office in Benin City, Edo State.
According to multiple sources, INEC’s ICT staff member, Mr. Itodo, is at the center of the controversy, because he has access code to the BVAS machines.
Also involved in the ongoing heist is Rita Amadi, head of INEC’s legal department in Benin.
The trio are said to be currently inside the INEC office in Benin, to carry out the illicit operation overnight as the facility is officially closed for the day.
A staff member from INEC, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated, “There’s no doubt that something fishy was going on. The BVAS machines are meant to be tamper-proof, but with the right access and manipulation, results can be altered. It’s disheartening to see senior staff like Mrs. Amadi involved in this.”
The tampering of the BVAS machines comes at a sensitive time as various legal battles and protests are ongoing regarding the September 21st Edo State governorship election.
The machines were used to accredit voters in the disputed election, and any tampering could significantly impact the election petitions filed by aggrieved parties, particularly by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and their candidate, Asue Ighodalo.
“This isn’t the first time we’ve seen Oshiomhole entangled in dubious political moves,” said a political analyst who preferred to remain anonymous.
“He has a history of playing dirty when it comes to elections, and this latest accusation, if proven true, could spell doom for the credibility of the APC in Edo,” he added.
Recall that several groups have called for an immediate forensic investigation into the BVAS machines used during the Edo election, to determine if it has been tampered with.