IREV and BVAS : Any Result That Does Not Pass Through Them Should Be Nullified — Barr. Darlington

Barrister Darlington, has called for the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) IREV (IReV Portal) and BVAS (Bimodal Voter Accreditation System) to be made legally binding instruments in Nigeria’s electoral process, stressing that any election result not transmitted through these platforms should be considered invalid and unconstitutional.

Speaking during a live program on VOP TV, Darlington said the credibility of Nigeria’s elections has been consistently undermined because the use of IREV and BVAS remains largely at the discretion of electoral officials, rather than a strict legal requirement.

“IREV and BVAS must be made legally binding. Any result that does not pass through them should be nullified. Otherwise, we are just recycling manipulation and calling it democracy,” he stated.

He emphasized that the electoral process must be backed by firm legal provisions, not policy decisions or administrative convenience. According to him, giving INEC officials room to bypass these technologies in the name of “logistics challenges” creates loopholes for rigging and data tampering.

Darlington further argued that the National Assembly must urgently amend the Electoral Act to clearly state that BVAS accreditation and IREV transmission are compulsory and enforceable, not optional.

“If the law doesn’t clearly state that these tools are mandatory, then electoral fraud will continue unchecked. Nigeria must move beyond excuses if we truly want transparent elections,” he added.

Observers have noted that Darlington’s comments echo widespread public concern over the credibility of recent elections, where results were often announced without full electronic transmission as promised by INEC.

The call for legal enforcement of IREV and BVAS comes as preparations intensify for the next election cycle, with citizens demanding reforms to restore voter confidence and accountability in Nigeria’s democratic process.