‘Items stolen are 5 laptops’ – EC insists amidst viral memo recalling BVDs

The Electoral Commission (EC) has insisted that there has not been any theft at its stores aside from the already reported five missing laptops, which came to the attention of the Commission following routine maintenance checks.

In a statement dated Friday, March 22, 2024, the Commission maintained that “there have been no thefts of BVDs from its stores.”

The statement was in response to a viral memo issued on March 7, 2024, to EC’s regional directors to facilitate the return of some 28 Biometric Verification Devices (BVDs) from 10 affected regions after the 2023 District Level Elections (DLE).

According to the Commission, it is imperative to address and dispel the rumors of alleged BVD thefts, which have been misconstrued by “the circulation of a memo intended for internal asset reconciliation.”

“The fact of the matter is, there have been no thefts of BVDs from the Electoral Commission’s stores. The only items stolen are five (5) laptops, which, as previously clarified, are separate from the BVDs and do not possess the capability to affect the integrity or outcome of elections.

The Commission continued, “The memo in question, widely shared on social media, was a routine communication aimed at ensuring the accountability and returning of all electoral equipment, including BVDs, to the Commission’s custody.

“This procedure underscores our rigorous asset management system, designed to maintain a transparent and accountable inventory of all Commission assets. This Commission places high value on all its assets,” the statement empahsised.

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• There is no compromise to electoral integrity – EC on unaccounted BVDs

Meanwhile, the Commission has assured the public and stakeholders that the five missing laptops do not have any tendency to compromise the integrity of the December 7 polls.

“The BVDs, integral to our electoral process, are designed with sophisticated security features. Without the proper activation and official use within our electoral framework, these devices are essentially inoperative.

“The integrity of our elections, therefore, remains unassailable,” said the Commission.

The EC therefore called on the public and all stakeholders to approach information dissemination with accuracy and responsibility.

Below is the full statement from the EC:

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