#OsunDecides2026: BVAS malfunction in more PUs in Osun

Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices have continued to malfunction at some polling units across Osun State in the ongoing governorship election, the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) Situation Room has said.

Join the Premium Times WhatsApp Community For Quick Access To News and Happenings Around You.

Open in WhatsApp

In its latest report, the Situation Room reported the malfunctioning of the device in Ilesa West, Ife Central and Egbedore Local Government Areas.

At 1:34 p.m., the BVAS stopped working at Polling Unit 024, Transformer Junction, Ofatedo Registration Area, Egbedore Local Government Area. The device reportedly stopped working because its battery was low. Some people offered power banks to support the machine.

Earlier, at 1:18 p.m., a voter, Omolade Adeoye, complained that he could not vote at Polling Unit 004, Open Space Irebami Line 1 (A), Ilare II Registration Area, Ife Central Local Government Area. The BVAS failed to read his Permanent Voter’s Card and verify his face.

At 1:07 p.m., voters faced another BVAS problem at Polling Unit 010, Ereja Registration Area, Ilesa West Local Government Area. The BVAS was hanging and could not be shut down because the Presiding Officer had not exported or backed up the data.

At the time, a long queue had formed at the polling unit, with voters already tired of waiting.

Earlier in the morning, the CJID Situation Room recorded similar problems in Ifedayo, Oriade and Ilesa East local government areas.

Stay Ahead with Premium Times

Add as a preferred source on Google

At about 9:06 a.m., the BVAS was not working at Polling Unit 007, Ora Maternity, Asaoni Registration Area, Ifedayo Local Government Area.

At 9:54 a.m., the BVAS was capturing voters slowly at Polling Unit 003, the Apostolic Primary School, Iwoye, in Oriade Local Government Area.

A similar problem was recorded at about 10:02 a.m. at Polling Unit 009, Kajola Junction, Registration Area 02, Ilesa East Local Government Area.

By 10:04 a.m., the BVAS could not capture the faces of most elderly voters at the polling unit. Some voters grew impatient after waiting in the queue, while some elderly voters reportedly left.

READ ALSO: #OsunDecide2026: Fadahunsi votes, charges APC supporters to be vigilant

INEC deployed 4,427 BVAS devices

The reported malfunction of devices comes despite INEC’s announcement before the election that it had deployed 4,427 BVAS devices for the poll.

According to the commission, the figure included 3,763 devices deployed to polling units and 664 backup devices.

The commission said the backup devices represented a 15 per cent operational reserve, and that they were stationed at Registration Area Centres with RACTECH officers to address hardware problems.