EARLY RESULTS FROM ANDY UBA’S POLLING UNIT
APC – 80
APGA 10
PDP 2
LP – 1
AAC – 1
Invalid votes – 3
Registered voters – 565 votes
Accredited voters – 106 votes
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INEC EXTENDS VOTING TO 4pm, TOMORROW FPR AREAS BVAS MALFUNCTIONED
From Obinna Odogwu, Awka
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended the voting time to 4pm today in the ongoing governorship election in Anambra State.
The commission also extended voting to tomorrow in areas where the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) failed.
Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Nkwachukwu Orji, at an emergency press briefing held in the INEC headquarters, Awka, the state capital, said that the measure became necessary to enable more, if not all, eligible voters to cast their votes.
He said that the BVAS malfunctioned because of software glitches. He said that the commission was already working to rectify the problem.
BVAS failed in some parts of the state thereby preventing voters from exercising their franchise.
Nkwachukwu said: “The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended the period for opening and closing of Poll from 8.30am to 4.00pm.
“This revised closing time applies to areas where Polling Units opened after the commencement period of 8.30am.
“In line with existing regulations and guidelines of the Commission, any intending voter who is on the queue by 4.00 pm shall be allowed to vote. All Polling Unit staff must comply with this directive.
“The extension of time arose out of several field reports that voters have had problems with accreditation. The Commission is currently investigating the reason the accreditation devices, Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), have worked perfectly in some Polling Units, but not in others.
“In some of the cases, it would seem that this resulted from software glitches. Our technicians have already built an update to the devise software to prevent further challenges. The update is currently being installed in the concerned BVAS and we request voters, candidates and agents to be patient and allow our technical staff to solve the problem.
“The Commission wishes to reiterate that in cases of sustained malfunction of the BVAS, the Presiding Officer must inform the voters and polling agents that accreditation and voting for the affected Polling Unit shall continue tomorrow or at another time determined by the Commission. With this extension of time and the recommencement of accreditation where the BVAS consistently malfunctions, the Commission assures that no voter will be disenfranchised.
“Our deployment has also been adversely affected by transportation challenges in some locations. It must be noted that on account of security concerns, some of the transporters that were mobilized and collected 50% of their sign on fee backed out at the last moment, leaving some of our ad-hoc staff stranded.
“Also, some of the trained ad-hoc staff backed out at the last moment. The Commission is on top of these challenges and extant regulations and guidelines will be applied on a case by case bases.
“Consequently, we are harvesting areas where voting will realistically no longer take place today, including places where substantial disruption has occurred, to enable a possible recommencement of voting at another time, in line with extant laws and the regulations and guidelines of the Commission.
“We appeal to all voters, candidates, stakeholders communities and political parties to remain calm and law abiding. We assure you that the Commission is determined to a make all votes count.”
In Alor, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, could not vote after trying for about 1 hour to be accredited. The BVAS failed to capture him. It, however, captured some of the voters at the Polling Unit, 010, in Ward 1.
In Isuofia, the BVAS at the Polling Unit of the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, failed, preventing him from voting.
It was gathered that 30 eligible voters were able to cast their votes at the Polling Unit but Soludo himself could not vote. However, another BVAS was later made available by INEC so that eligible voters could cast their votes.
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NGIGE YET TO VOTE AT 2:40pm
…Laments failure of accreditation process
From Magnus Eze, Awka
Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige was not able to cast his vote at the Polling Unit 010, Nkwo-Ide, Alor Ward One, in Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State.
The Minister had stayed about two hours undergoing accreditation but the process failed after about 70 attempts.
He expressed his desire to vote but regretted that the system failed.
He put the failure rate of accreditation machines in his area at over 30 percent.
Leaving the Polling Centre to his country home at about 2:35pm, Ngige asked that he should be alerted if the machine started working.
He appealed to INEC to extend the voting period to 5pm to enable teeming voters cast their vote.
The minister also advised INEC to always test run their equipment at least a week before election to ensure they are functional.
Several voters at the Polling units there could not be accredited to vote.
VOTING ENDS IN SOME POLLING UNITS IN ONITSHA
From Jeff Amechi Agbodo, Onitsha
Voting has ended in some polling units in Onitsha, waiting for counting of votes.
At Inland town ward 5, polling unit 009 Living Christ Church, Owelebo all the voters who came out to vote have been accredited and voted as INEC presiding officers in the place commenced sorting and counting of votes.
The Youth Leader, Young Progressive Party (YPP), Anambra North senatorial zone Chubby Egbuche expressed happiness over the large turnout of voters at the polling unit.
He said he was optimistic that his party YPP, will win at the polling unit. Egbuche commended the peaceful conduct of the election in Onitsha.
“I’m happy over the turn out in polling unit and peaceful conduct of the election. I want to commend INEC for their zeal and seriousness in discharging their duties.
Also Housing Estate, Fegge Onitsha ward 2 polling units at Ugbo-Orimili primary school voting has ended.
There was large turnout at the area as many people came out to exercise their franchise.
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CHIDOKA BROTHERS VOTE IN OBOSI, CALL ON INEC, SECURITY AGENTS TO TAKE CHARGE
….As thugs beat up INEC officials, break phones, scatter voting process
From Aloysius Attah, Onitsha
Former Aviation Minister and Corps Marshal, Chief Osita Chidoka and his younger brother, Obinna Chidoke voted peacefully at Central School Obosi at 1:15 pm.
Osita who was accompanied to the polling unit by some aides and friends had a smooth accreditation and seamless voting at polling Unit 014 while his brother and Member representing Idemili North/South Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, Obinna voted after him.
Speaking after exercising his franchise, Osita said that he had noticed some technical challenges from the INEC but expressed confidence that the voice of the people would be respected in the election.
“There are few challenges here and there but so far so good, people have turned out and Anambra people’s voices must be heard. Our voice must be heard in the country and we must elect a leadership that represents our hopes and dreams. I’m happy the process is going on and once it is free and fair, whoever is the winner, the state will accept it” he said.
He called on the Independent National Electoral Commission to address issues of reported logistical problems noticed and also consider extending the time of voting to accommodate some of the places that encountered hitches.
Obinna Chidoka in a remark after voting commended the seamless voting process but wondered why some machines were not working.
Meanwhile, there were reported incidents of shooting in parts of Ugwuagba Obosi while thugs swooped on election workers at Anambra State School of Health Technology, Obosi, beat up the INEC staff, tore the election materials to shreds, broke some phones and made away with few others forcing everyone to run for safety.
Condemning the incident, Obinna said people should be allowed to exercise their franchise without any hindrance or molestation and called on the security agencies to rise up to the situation.
He wondered why some young men could still take such road of infamy at this level of democratic political participation and awareness
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STAMPEDE AS VOTERS SUSTAIN INJURIES AT URUAGU, WARD III, NNEWI
From David Onwuchekwa, Nnewi
There was a stampede at Uruagu, Ward III, Nnewi which was generated by political thugs who stormed the polling station. A team of soldiers and the police later arrived the scene. Many broke their legs and arms while trying to run away from danger into a nearby bush.
It was later gathered that two political parties were in money sharing competition. While one of them, according to a voter, was sharing N3,000 per voter another party was giving N2,500 to each voter, a situation that generated commotion.
Meanwhile, voting started at that polling station by 11:00 like some other polling units in Nnewi.
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SECURITY SCARE, VOTERS STRANDED IN OBOSI
From Aloysius Attah, Onitsha
There was impressive voter turnout in parts of Obosi, Idemili North local government area visited by the reporter.
At Obosi town hall and Obosi central school, many turned out in their numbers to vote but there were reported cases of malfunctioning machines keeping some of the prospective voters stranded.
Logistics issues reared its ugly head at Obosi Town hall as most presiding officers could not mobilize to their polling units owing to lack of adequate vehicles while some INEC staff supposed to mobilize the adhoc staff where nowhere to be found.
There was large presence of security officials stationed in the town hall loitering while many other polling units lacked security personnel.
An APGA Chieftain and Special Assistant to Governor Obiano, Chief Tony One week Muonagor told the reporter that some of the security agents returned to their base at the town hall because some thugs chased them back at St.Philips Primary School.
A stranded INEC presiding officer identified as Lucky who spoke to the reporter lamented that he was drafted to the open field at Wisdom Landlords Association security office, Odume Obosi but he was forced to return back to the town hall because they could not find the exact location of the polling unit.
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(PHOTO CREDIT: David Onwuchekwa)
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VOTERS STRANDED, COMPLAIN OF BVAS MALFUNCTION
From Geoffrey Anyanwu, Enugu
Voters are stranded in many polling units at various areas especially in Awka Ward 2 and 6 following the malfunctioning of the BVAS machine.
Some of the eligible voters complained that they have spent over two hours waiting for the BVAS to work for accreditation and voting to start.
At Akogheli, Ward 2 Awka, the people expressed displeasure that the BVAS brought to them were not functional, and called on INEC to bring replacement before the people disperse.
However, an electoral official told our reporter that the BVAS were not faulty but hat problem is that they brought wrong ones.
”The problem is that the BVAS the brought here does not for this place, but an official has come now to change the pin to march this place.
Also complaining, Mr. Okechukwu Onyeama said the people at Ward 6 came out in time and on large numbers but that the BVAS were not working.
“You call INEC, they are blaming the adhoc staff that they are not conversant with the BVAS , and the staff are blaming the Commission for sending wrong ones.
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BISHOP NWOKOLO VOTES, DESCRIBES ELECTION AS PEACEFUL
From David Onwuchekwa, Nnewi
The Bishop Diocese on the Niger, Rt Rev. Owen Nwokolo has described the ongoing governorship election in Anambra State, particularly in Onitsha as peaceful and orderly.
Rt Rev. Nwokolo disclosed this after casting his vote at All Saints Primary School Ward I, Onitsha North Local Government Area, Anambra State.
Rt Rev. Nwokolo who voted alongside his wife called on those who were yet to come out to vote to come out because according to him there is nothing to fear as adequate security had been put in place for all the voters and Independent Electoral Commission INEC.
Bishop Nwokolo commended INEC for introducing a new system of ‘accreditation and voting’ said the system made for fast voting and did not waste voter’s time at the pooling units.
There was, however, voter’s apathy as many people were still afraid to come out to vote because of the high presence of security men who were thoroughly searching people walking to their polling boots to cast their votes, including journalists.
At Christ the Kings Collage, CKC, Onitsha Ward 1, there were four polling units there but, out of the four one of the polling units identified as O19 is not functioning as INEC officials and voting materials were yet to arrive, and voters a complaining bitterly as the time of filing this report.
OZIGBO EXPRESSES WORRY OVER POOR INTERNET, ASKS INEC TO EXTEND VOTING TIME
From David Onwuchekwa, Nnewi
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Mr Valentine Ozigbo expressed worry over the poor Internet connectivity experienced by voters in Anambra State as Independent National Electoral Commission deployed Bi-modal Voter Accreditation System (BIVAS) machine.
Mr Ozigbo decried that it took him over 20 minutes to cast his vote and wondered what other voters would experience in various parts of the State.
He said that shortly after casting his vote at Social Centre, Unit 010, Amesi, Aguata local government area.
He seized the opportunity to call on eligible voters to come out and exercise their franchise, assuring them of their security.
He further decried late arrival of materials at Awka South, Orumba North, other parts of Anambra State, and urged INEC officials to ensure materials got to those areas to avoid disenfranchising voters.