#OsunDecides2026: Deputy Governor Adewusi Laments As BVAS Malfunctions At Polling Unit | Sahara Reporters

Speaking at his polling unit, the deputy governor said the voting process had initially proceeded smoothly before the BVAS began experiencing problems.

The Osun State Deputy Governor, Kola Adewusi, has expressed displeasure with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) deployed to his polling unit malfunctioned during Saturday’s governorship election.

Adewusi said the technical failure slowed down the accreditation process and prevented many voters from casting their ballots, raising concerns about possible disenfranchisement as voters turned out in large numbers across the state.

Speaking at his polling unit, the deputy governor said the voting process had initially proceeded smoothly before the BVAS began experiencing problems.

“Election was going well until the BVAS started malfunctioning and started giving issues and it has slowed down the process leaving many persons not voting,” he said.

Adewusi also expressed frustration over attempts to contact officials of the electoral commission over the malfunction, saying efforts to reach the relevant INEC authorities had been unsuccessful.

He appealed to INEC to urgently address the technical problem and ensure that the accreditation machine was restored to working condition to enable eligible voters to participate in the election.

The deputy governor said the continued malfunction of the BVAS could leave a significant number of voters unable to exercise their constitutional right to vote if the situation was not promptly resolved.

Adewusi’s complaint came amid widespread concerns over the performance of BVAS machines at polling units across Osun State, with voters in several locations reporting delays in the accreditation process.

Earlier, SaharaReporters reported a large turnout of voters at the polling unit of Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, in Ede on Saturday, where voters expressed frustration over delays caused by the slow performance of the BVAS deployed by INEC.

SaharaReporters observed a large crowd at the polling location, with many voters complaining about difficulties encountered during accreditation.

The delays sparked concerns among some voters, with some questioning whether the technical problems experienced with the BVAS were simply malfunctions or represented a deliberate attempt to frustrate the voting process.

A voter who resides in Ivory Coast but returned to Ede specifically to participate in the election, Alhaji Olaboye Mudashiru, expressed disappointment over the situation, saying the slow accreditation process had raised questions about the credibility of the electoral process.

“I think it is deplorable to experience that the BVAS are very, very bad,” Mudashiru told SaharaReporters.

“At the polling booth where the governor is voting, here we have a crowd like this, which is not common in Osun State. As you can observe, you can see for yourself.”

Mudashiru said he had travelled from Ivory Coast to his hometown in Ede specifically to participate in the election, stressing that he had made the journey because he wanted to exercise his right to vote.

The complaints over BVAS performance have added to concerns surrounding the conduct of the election, particularly the ability of INEC’s accreditation technology to cope with the high voter turnout.

With the deputy governor and voters raising concerns over delays, attention is now on INEC to resolve the technical challenges and ensure that eligible voters are not disenfranchised by malfunctioning accreditation devices.