Abaribe Credits BVAS and Cashless Policy for Election Victory

Senator Enyinnaya Harcourt Abaribe, the former Deputy Governor of Abia State, has attributed his success in the February 25 presidential and national assembly elections to the introduction of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the cashless policy.

Speaking at a two-day seminar on “Peace Journalism and Consolidation of Democracy in Nigeria,” the senator explained that BVAS eliminated human interference in the election process and prevented opponents from manufacturing results. Furthermore, the cash crunch resulting from the cashless policy made it difficult for money bags to buy votes.

Senator Abaribe also criticized the country’s recruitment process and noted that people don’t vote for the best candidates. Rather, they consider other factors, causing competence and the ability to deliver to take a back seat. He expressed gratitude for his victory and the role played by BVAS and the cashless policy.

The senator also discussed the issue of impunity in Nigeria, noting that bad behavior is not punished, leading to its thriving. He urged the need to hold politicians accountable for their actions.

The seminar, organized by the Media Educational Development Initiative for Africa, aimed to promote peace journalism and democracy consolidation in Nigeria. The President of the Centre for Media and Peace Initiatives, New York, Dr. Uchenna Ekwo, emphasized the importance of peace journalism and the need to report crises in ways that reduce conflict.