Controversy Trails Alleged Storage Of BVAS Machines In Govt House

Chairman of Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in Cross River State, Mr. Anthony Bissong Attah, yesterday staged a walkout from a meeting that was convened by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the state police commissioner, who was represented by the deputy commissioner of operations, Mr. Frank Idu.

The meeting was convened by INEC’s state resident electoral commissioner, the REC, Prof. Gabriel Yomere to address the claims by online news publications that BEVAS machines belonging to the commission were stored at Cross River State government house.

Before quitting the meeting, the IPAC chairman stated that until he was given access to the bar code of BVAS machines, he won’t have confidence in the operations of INEC.

Bissong who doubles as state chairman of Young Progression Party (YPP) said, “Until we see the bar code before we can give our confidence on the issue.”

He said, “This is not what we agreed on yesterday.  The agreement we had in a meeting that we had yesterday with INEC is completely different from what I have seen here today.”

In his earlier remarks, Yomere disagreed with Attah’s demand to sight the BVAS machines, stressing that INEC had not authorised political parties’ access to the BVAS machines nor the bar codes.

The REC stated that BVAS were part of the sensitive materials of INEC that are not to be presented to political parties nor members of the public.

He dispelled rumour that the BVAS were stored in government house and charged members of the Public to disregard the fake news circulated a week ago on some online news platforms that the BVAS were kept at Cross River State government house.

The REC threatened to resign his appointment if it is established that any BVAS is missing, adding that there were 3,281 BVAS that are still intact.

“The information via deliberate falsehood by mischief makers intended to mislead the public and unduly ignite anxiety.

“Cross Riverians and members of the general public are enjoined to ignore the information as the number of BVAS deployed from INEC headquarters to Cross River State office is intact and adequately secured.”

“INEC Cross River State office cautions all citizens against circulating fake news capable of heating up the polity and undermining the neutrality and integrity of the commission,” Yomere said.