2023 Elections: INEC partners with telecoms firms to address network challenges

*Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman the Independent National Electoral Commission says Nigerians should rest assured the Commission has taken measures against any potential attacks during the 2023 General Elections

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

In order to ensure hitch-free exercises, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said the Commission is working with the major network service providers, including MTN Nigeria, Glo Mobile, Airtel Networks and 9Mobile to address any challenge that may arise during the polls in the country.

ConsumerConnect reports Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman of INEC, disclosed this development Friday, February 24, 2023, during the Commission’s media briefing in Abuja, FCT.

Prof. Yakubu said INEC also had taken adequate measures to fortify and protect its systems and processes against malicious attacks.

The Commission, he stated, has vast experience in election results transmission via the iREV while the BVAS requires online process only at the point of polling unit uploading.

Yakubu further noted: “We have taken sufficient steps to fortify and protect our systems and processes.

“I must also say we are leaving certain things when it comes to cybersecurity to ourselves because the walls have ears but Nigerians should rest assured that we are aware that our resources may be susceptible to attacks but we have taken measures.”

The Chairman of INEC stated: “We have tremendous experience in transmitting results real time in Nigeria.

“We successfully transmitted results for 105 constituencies nationwide.

“Please be rest assured that we are aware of the challenges, and we have the capacity within the commission to be able to respond to the challenges.”

He explained “after all, the BVAS is not an electronic voting machine; it will not operate online on election day. It is completely offline.

“Where we need a little bit of internet connectivity is when we transmit results from the Polling Unit and we are on top of the game.”