Two Ekiti Senators have urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to improve on the Bimodal Voters Authentication System (BIVAS) in future elections.

They are Opeyemi Bamidele, representing Ekiti Central Senatorial District on the APC platform and Abiodun Olujimi, representing Ekiti South Central on the platform of PDP.

Speaking with journalists in Iyin-Ekiti, his hometown in Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area, after voting at Ward ‘B’ Unit 003, Mr Bamidele said there was a need for the new technological innovation to encompass all facets of the electoral process, including accreditation, voting and electronic transfer of votes.

The APC senator said that the electronic transfer of votes would not only improve the poll credibility but also stamp out the fears of result tampering at collation centres.

“With BVAS, there is no fear of anybody tampering with the accreditation process, and that is the beauty of democracy.

“So, the next stage for INEC is having the electronic transfer of votes. From the reports I heard from the start of the voting, it has been a peaceful process. We owe it a duty to collectively protect the integrity of this process.

“All of us are bothered with the kind of tension in towns before this election, but I am personally happy for the way it has turned out peacefully,” Mr Bamidele said.

Commenting, Ms Olujimi expressed delight at the electoral process, particularly the large turnout of voters, describing the process as peaceful and heartwarming.

Addressing journalists shortly after casting her vote at Ward 7, Unit 7, Iworo Quarters in Omuo-Ekiti, Ms Olujimi said: “The turnout was huge.”

“For the first time, nobody is struggling to snatch ballot boxes, maybe because of voters’ education or our experiences in the last House of Assembly re-run election where we lost three lives, or maybe the politicians now know that they have to mobilise to win.

“This time, politicians know that there is no shortcut; you just have to mobilise. I have been here since morning, and the BVAS has not stopped for once. People are now better informed, and they have turned out en masse to vote.

“Kudos to INEC. The security men are almost half of the voters, maybe because of our past experiences too. But none of them intimidated voters, they were just doing their jobs,” Ms Olujimi said.

(NAN)