By Osaretin Osadebamwen
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said that its Bi-Modal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices are still operating on Android 10, a version that has not been upgraded since 2021.
This revelation was shared with the public by Director of ICT at INEC, Dr. Lawrence Bayode who appeared on television programme “The Morning Show.”
The revelation raises concern about the security and efficiency of the electoral technology ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections. Given that the Android 10 was released in 2019 before the procurement of the BVAS, sine then the technology sa advanced with android the latest android 16 version released in 2025.
Speaking on the stress trail of the BVAS conducted in Osun ahead of the Osun gubernatorial election, Dr. Lawrence Bayode stated that, “What happened on the 1st of August, when the commission tested the bi-modal voter accreditation system, was that the system was designed to run on Android version 10. At the time, we were comfortable with that version.”
He further explained the challenges of upgrading the system, saying, “If you want to upgrade now to a higher version, then a lot of things have to be upgraded — the RAM, and other hardware components — so that it will not slow down the system.”
Addressing security concerns, Dr. Bayode acknowledged, “Yes, security has improved on the current Android versions, but we are not relying solely on the security of the application system. We are also deploying our own security on the BVAS to ensure it is secure.”
Despite the outdated operating system, Dr. Bayode defended the system’s performance during recent exercises, noting, “The mock did not fail. It worked fine. We were able to accredit over 1,000 people who came out on the day.”
He emphasized that the choice of Android 10 was deliberate, stating, “We prioritized stability and compatibility when selecting Android 10 initially. Upgrading now would require a comprehensive overhaul of both software and hardware.”
The budget for BVAS and related election technology runs into billions of naira, prompting public scrutiny over the lack of upgrades. Dr. Bayode responded, “Upgrading the OS is not just a software update; it involves significant hardware upgrades, which require careful planning and resources.”
Civil society groups and election observers have expressed caution, warning that reliance on a backdated system could increase risks of technical glitches or security breaches during elections.
