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…INEC, voters, and general election
By Our Reporters
The presidential and National Assembly elections held yesterday across the country with an impressive turnout of voters amid logistics challenges faced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Sunday Sun which was on ground in all the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, observed a massive deployment of security agencies positioned in strategic locations to ensure peace and order during the voting period.
Our reporters’ findings showed that the issue of logistics with regards to timely distribution of election materials reared its ugly head again during the poll.
Sunday Sun observed that whereas some polling units were almost set for accreditation of voters at 8:00a.m, the INEC officials were yet to be sighted even as late as 9:40a.m in many others.
Around the country, the late arrival of INEC officials and voting materials were common complaints by voters who spoke to our reporters though the elections were largely peaceful.
FCT
At the Federal Capital Territory, major roads, motor parks and other recreational centres were completely deserted.
A visit to some of the major hubs in Kubwa, Gwarinpa and other parts of the metropolis showed that residents, who during the weekends, troop out to recreational centres, were visibly absent.
Similarly, the busy Kubwa-AYA expressway, was deserted by motorists, as at the time of filing this report.
Only armed security agents were seen patrolling the neighbourhoods.
Some residents who were not mobile, but intended to move to other areas to vote, were seen stranded at bus stops, as no commercial vehicles were available at the time of filing in this report.
Sunday Sun observed that despite ongoing voting in several polling units visited around Byzhin and Liberty junction, Kubwa, some residents were aggrieved over their inability to locate their units on time.
They blamed INEC of transfer of their units without proper sensitization of the masses.
Sunday Sun observed the late arrival of officials of the INEC at the Model Primary School, Kubwa, Phase 3, where polling units 034,035 and 036 are located.
While voters turned out in their numbers as early as 8:00a.m, the electoral officials did not arrive the venue until about 8:52 a.m. However, as soon as they arrived, they quickly set up their system for the commencement of the polls.
At polling unit 035, the first voter was accredited at about 9:41a.m.
Several voters at the Government Secondary School (GSS), Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja polling unit , claimed that the ballot papers’ colour did not match those of the ballot boxes.
They asserted that the INEC deliberately tried to confuse voters into placing their ballots in the incorrect boxes in order to disenfranchise them.
Voters insisted that it was a premeditated action and went around educating other voters to ensure they read the label on each paper carefully before putting them in the voting boxes, despite the INEC officer on the scene clarifying that the ballot papers would eventually be sorted out correctly.
About 9:24 a.m, INEC officials and their ad hoc staff arrived at the voting location, and voting and accreditation started at 10:25a.m. Several voters had trouble being captured by the BVAS while others couldn’t locate their names on the INEC list.
Lagos
The Centre of Excellence witnessed massive turnout of voters, but in many areas of the state, a good number of people especially non-indigenes were disenfranchised following harassment from thugs loyal to a particular party.
In LASU, the entrance gate was shut against people of a particular region even as some supporters of the party in question told them to go home amid protests from the voters.
Also in Surulere, a thug loyal to a particular party asked voters who were not ready to vote for his candidate to go home.
A video that went viral exposed how the thug asked the electorate to leave the polling unit if they wouldn’t vote for a particular candidate.
The threat happened in front of INEC officials, security personnel, observers and others.
The threat took place at Fehintola Giwa Street, Aguda Surulere.
Sunday Sun reports that thugs also disrupted voting process at Akinyele Street, Aguda, Surulere, Lagos.
The hitherto peaceful voting process at Akinyele was disrupted by some thugs who stormed the venue in a mini-bus popularly known as Korope and snatched the ballot boxes.
The men came when some people were waiting to be accredited and went straight for the ballot boxes.
They had dangerous weapons which they used to scare away voters before they snatched the boxes, and made away with them.
Minutes after they left with the boxes and destroyed some, men of the Nigerian army got to the scene and started chasing them.
In most parts of Anifowose Ikeja, including Oshifila, Akiremi, Modipe, Nurudeen, Independence, Araromi and other adjoining streets, at 8:00 a.m, streets were deserted with no sign of the INEC officials.
But the situation was different at the St. Agnes Primary School, Yaba where accreditation and voting commenced at exactly 8:30a.m. In the polling unit, it was a seamless process as once a voter was accredited, he or she went ahead to vote.
Sunday Sun observed that the BVAS machine worked perfectly in the unit.
At the time of filing this report, tension was building up at some areas in Iju Ishaga, Agege and Okota areas of Lagos as electoral materials were yet to arrive in so many polling units. The voters were ready to cast their votes, but the INEC officials were conspicuously absent.
However, in Onipanu, voting had commenced at the time of this report.
Also, at 9:17 a.m, the INEC officials had not arrived at polling units 106, 109, Monkey village of Amuwo Odofin.
At 10:23 a.m, no visible INEC officials’ presence in the whole of Jakande Estate, Oke afa , Ejigbo even when voters came out since 8:00a.m in all the accredited polling units in the estate.
Also voting was yet to commence at the Fadairo/Ebenezar polling unit at 10:00 a.m as the INEC officials who got to the unit had to take a non-functional BVAS machine to their office for repairs.
The Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, arrived his polling unit 085 Ward F at exactly 10:01a.m amid late arrival of elections materials and INEC officers in his unit.
Clad in a blue caftan, he was cheered by his supporters. He was accompanied by his daughter, the Iyaloja General, Folasade Ojo-Tinubu and wife, Oluremi.
There was tension as voters, INEC officials engaged in hot argument over BVAS machine at PU004 . At 9:30 a.m, voting was yet to comment at PU 004, Borokini Jakande Gate, Oshodi-Isolo Local Government Area even as voters crowded the INEC officials to demand that the BVAS machine read zero-zero before they could commence voting.
Some of the voters alleged that the INEC officials and party agents were conniving to manipulate the system to favour their ‘pay masters’ after money must have exchanged hands.
After long argument, the INEC officials eventually bowed to the demand of the voters and later raised up the BVAS machine, which read zero-zero as voters initially demanded.
However, accreditation of eligible voters commenced with the elderly people who are above 55 years given preferential treatment to be accredited while other voters waited.
Many voters at the 104 polling units in Egbe-Agodo, Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State could not vote because their names were not found in the voters register.
The affected voters told Sunday Sun that they voted at the specific polling unit in the past two elections of 2015 and 2019.
At polling units 29, 30, 31 and 34, polling officers could not find their names in the registered list. The affected voters said that they saw their names and pictures pasted on the displayed lists at Unity Primary School, Egbe.
Voting was halted at polling unit 30 as a result of protests by the voters who accused the polling officers of not stamping the three ballot papers.
The party agents agreed that after voting, the polling officer would stamp the ballot papers before counting the votes.
At unit 023, Ejigbo, INEC Officials arrived by 12 noon even as only one police officer (woman) could be sighted. Accreditation started shortly some minutes thereafter, but there was no coordination as the police officer was overwhelmed and couldn’t do anything for smooth voting.
There was low, late turnout of voters in parts of Abule Egba even as voting went on smoothly and peacefully in parts of Abule Egba, Lagos amid heavy security.
At some of the units visited by Sunday Sun along Agbe Road, officials of INEC complained of the low and late arrival of voters.
“Everything is going on well here, except that voters are not coming out. We have more than 200 registered voters in this unit 005, but not up to 60 have showed up. Once it is 2:30p.m, we may have to shut down voting,” said one of the officials who lamented she has been waiting for over one hour without any voter coming out.
At Igbogbo/ Baiyeku area of Ikorodu, voting stared in most polling booths at 10:30 a.m, after transport logistics problem was settled at the UAMC (Eleja Primary School) Igbogbo, which was the take~off point.
In most polling booths monitored by Sunday Sun, accreditation was delayed due to the late arrival of electoral materials.
At polling booth 036 (Igbe/Igbogbo road junction, voting started at 11:02a.m and the conduct was peaceful with only one security officer at the venue.
At polling booth 002, LG Primary school, Baiyeku accreditation of voters started at 10:40 a.m.
Bauchi
There was an impressive turnout of voters in most polling units in Bauchi State.
At the Ajiya 001 & 002 polling units Kofar Fadar in Alkaleri Local Government Area, a large turnout of voters, including the aged and women, were seen queuing up for validation as early as 7:00 a.m to cast their votes.
At Boi polling Unit with code number 005 in Bogoro Local Government Area, a large number of voters were sighted and ready to cast their votes at 7:25 a.m.
There were heavy presence of security personnel such as the Police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) at the polling unit while the INEC officials were sighted setting up the units. The atmosphere was generally peaceful.
At 7:59 a.m at Pada polling unit with code number 03, Tilde Fulani in Toro Local Government Area, the INEC, Sunday Sun observed were seen setting up the polling unit with every necessary materials for the exercise readily available.
Many voters were sighted on the queue and eagerly waiting to cast their votes for their choice of candidates.
However, in Dan’iya Hardo Ward of Bauchi Local Government, which comprises both Old and New Government Reserved Area (GRAs), there was no presence of INEC officials nor voting materials as at 8:30 a.m.
Sunday Sun which was on ground in Sa’adu Zungur Primary School IV polling unit, Winniee ‘A’ polling unit, as well as Sa’adu Zungur Primary School III and V polling units, observed that only a few voters were seen waiting for the INEC officials while there were no traces of security personnel.
In Bakari Dukku Collation Centre where sensitive materials were being distributed around 8:40 a.m, all the officials to be deployed to the Dan’iya Hardo Ward were still in the Collation Centre collecting their election materials with heavy presence of security personnel.
When approached, one of the officials who did not want his name mentioned said he was to serve as Assistant Presiding Officer (APO1), and explained that they were still waiting for the BVAS to be given as well as transportation allowance before leaving the Collation Centre.
Borno
Polling units opened late in Maiduguri, Borno State.
In Maiduguri, voting commenced in most polling units at about 9:20a.m.
Electoral officials attributed the late commencement to late arrival of election materials and delay in booting the BVAS machines.
At Lamisula/Zabarnari Collation Centre, election officials said that poor Internet network prevented the BVAS from booting.
“Most of the BVAS machines are not booting, but we have called the technical people for help,” Tijjani Hassan, INEC collation officer, said.
Ogun
In Adiyan/ Ajegunle polling unit 23 in Oke Aro/ Ibaragun Robinyan in Ifo LGA at about 8:40a.m, there was no INEC staff in sight.
But scores of voters could be seen around also waiting for the process to commence. There were no communication as to why the officials of the INEC were yet to arrive or when actually the process would start.
However, agents of the APC were all around recording voters names and giving them numbers. No other party agents were here yet. There were reports that INEC officials conveying sensitive election materials for distribution to polling units in Agbodo and Oke aro axis were attacked by gunmen at Ifo and that they were stranded at one spot at the time of filing this report. That delayed the accreditation and voting as there were no INEC or security officials.
As at 9:30a.m, voters were still waiting for INEC officials at Community Primary School, Araromi Oke Odo polling unit. The voters were, however, being registered by officials of the Community Development Association as they came to ensure orderliness when the INEC officials finally arrived.
Despite the late arrival of INEC and security officials, accreditation and voting at units 022, 023 and 024 of Ward 7 in Oke Aro, Ibaragun/ Robinyan Ward in Ifo LGA remained peaceful as voters conducted themselves in an orderly manner. The only visible snag was that the polling agents who were too overbearing on voters by telling them who to vote for.
At a point, an agent of ADC party challenged his conduct by reporting her to the female police officer who promptly intervened to forestall a breakdown of law and order.
It was also clear to Sunday Sun that the INEC ad hoc staff were not with any senior supervisors to check any undue influence from party agents who may want to interfere with the process along the line.
However, only a few of the party agents were represented at polling centres, but generally, there were no issues with BVAS machines as the accreditations were quite smooth.
Bayelsa
At PU 14, Yenagoa Ward 5, there was tension over malfunctioning of the BVAS machine. The code given to the Polling Officer was not working even as the voters complained that they had been waiting since 9:00a.m. They had asked the electoral officials to shut down the polling unit if the BVAS could not work.
Voting was disrupted in several places in Edebeberi community, Sagbama Local Government following attacks on journalists by political thugs.
The journalists, including the crew of TVC and Upfront News, were prevented from recording proceedings as thugs were beating voters.
Kaduna
At 10:00 a.m, the Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai was being expected at his Ungwan Sarki ward to vote.
Sunday Sun observed that at 9:12 a.m, the INEC officials were yet to be sighted at the polling unit.
Oyo
In many of the places visited by Sunday Sun, including, Dugbe, Mokola, Agodi-Gate, Oke-Adu, and Ita Baale Ogboriefon, the exercise went on smoothly.
Some of the presiding officers of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), said that they were at the polling units as early as 8:00a.m. They said the BVAS had been working smoothly.
But the system adopted by the INEC Ad hoc staff was that ballot papers were given to the accredited voters one by one. The first was the ballot for the presidential poll, the second was Senate and the last was for House of Representatives. The arrangement was that each accredited voter would get one, vote and come back for the second and third ballot papers.
The box for the presidential poll was marked with red colour, the box for the senatorial election was marked with black colour, while the box for the House of Representatives poll was marked with green colour.
Edo
There was also an impressive turnout in the state.
At Obe primary school in Fugar, the administrative headquarters of Etsako Central Local Government Area where the former Edo State governor, Adams Oshiomhole hails from, voting commenced before 9:00a.m across Unit 1 to Unit 8 of Ward 2.
Also, at Ward 3, located at St-John College, Fugar, voting commenced about the same time and at Iyahmo primary school, voting commenced at 9:30 a.m.
Emokpae Primary School, Ward 4 is where Governor Godwin Obaseki voted and eligible voters arrived the polling unit as early as 6:00a.m with the intention of casting their votes for their choice candidates.
Kwara
The process also witnessed its good and ugly sides as the malfunctioning of the BVAS device delayed the commencement of accreditation and voting in some polling units in Kwara South Senatorial District particularly in Irepodun Local Government Area despite the early arrival of electoral officials and materials.
At Ile- Bale polling unit (002 ) in Ajase- IPO Ward 1, in Irepodun Local Government, many prospective voters waited for more than three hours after the arrival of the electoral officials due to malfunctioning of the BVAS.
The polling unit has over 800 registered voters, making it one of the biggest in terms of population in the ward.
Ninety years old trader, Mallam Saliu Yakubu, was among the frustrated voters who waited patiently for more than three hours for electoral officials to fix the machine.
A polling official who declined to be mentioned told Sunday Sun that they eventually fixed the device.
She ruled out possibilities of any extension of time, but assured that all those on queue as at 2:30p.m will be allowed to vote.
Similar situation was recorded at NEPA polling units, Ajase ward 1 (006) where officials complained of slow network and delay in accreditation and voting.
Cross River
There was massive turn out of voters in Ogoja, Yala, Bekwarra LGAs in Cross River North even as voting was yet to commence in Obudu Local Government area, Governor Ben Ayade’s home town by 12:37p.m . The voting unit at Gakem was yet to receive materials neither were INEC officials on ground at the time.
Delta
Insufficient ballot papers, lack of result sheets stalled polls in Aniocha North.
Late arrival of materials, insufficient ballot papers and non-availability of result sheets also stalled the elections in parts of Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State.
At Kadinma Primary School, Ward 01, (Onicha-Uku) of the locality, electoral materials arrived at about 10:10a.m, when voting reportedly commenced.
However, the exercise was stalled midway when it was discovered that the ballot papers were not sufficient for the number of voters who collected their PVCs.
Besides, it was also discovered that the materials did not come with result sheets, a situation that caused tension in the area.
Abia
Sunday Sun reports non-provision of voting materials by INEC in many parts of Abia North as at midday.
There was late arrival of materials from polling units in Bende, Umunneochi, Ohafia, Arochukwu and Isuikwuato.
Our reporter confirmed that in the five local government areas of Abia North, most polling units in Bende, Umunneochi, Ohafia, Arochukwu and Isuikwuato had not received voting materials at almost midday.
The development came despite the massive turnout of voters in the zone.
As at the time of filing this report at about 3:00p.m, many people in the area were yet to be accredited.
Sharing of materials which began late at about 5:00 a.m on Saturday, were still ongoing as at 1 O’clock in the afternoon, in Aba North, Osisioma and parts of Aba South, according to findings by Sunday Sun.
It was gathered that in the Osisioma INEC office, only three vehicles were seen as at 7 O’clock in the morning, moving materials from there to the Abayi Girls Secondary School, where the distribution was being done, and the sharing could not be completed by 10:00 a.m.
This development made accreditation and voting to be delayed in the various polling centres despite the fact that anxious voters left their homes as early as 6:30 a.m to trek to their polling centres in view of the ban on movement of vehicles during the day.
At Amasator Ward 3, Unit 003, Osisioma LGA, Abia State University Secondary School, people were seen waiting for the arrival of materials, with military and police personnel, stationed at the Bata Junction leading to Ikot Ekpene Road/Ogbor Hill, and the entrance into the city centre, checking motorists coming into Aba town.
The story was the same at Aba North INEC office, where the materials were still being shared by 9: 50 a.m though vehicles conveying some units polling materials had then started leaving the centre.
Delta
Complaints over late arrival of materials and shortage of ballot papers, in some instances, characterised the exercise in parts of Delta State.
Although, voting commenced early in parts of Asaba, the state capital, as well as Ika North-East Local Government Area where Governor Ifeanyi Okowa hails from, the exercise started very late in several other parts of the state.
In Ughelli metropolis, Ughelli North LGA, voting started late due to the delay in the distribution of materials at INEC office in the area.
Reports from Warri South, Warri North, Okpe LGAs also showed that materials arrived voting centres very late.
However, in Ika North-East, the council area of PDP, the Vice Presidential candidate and Governor of the state, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, said that the exercise which kicked off early, was generally peaceful.
At unit 17 ward 02 (Eghoma Primary School), Owa-Alero where Okowa voted at about 9:40a.m, the turnout was impressive.
Other communities in Ika North-East including Akumazi where PDP presidential campaign spokesman, Charles Aniagwu voted and Ute-Okpu, the exercise was peaceful amid massive turnout of enthusiastic voters.
But Minority Leader of the House of Representatives and PDP candidate for Aniocha/Oshimili constituency, Ndudi Elumelu, complained bitterly about the shortcomings at his ward 01 (Onicha-Uku) of Aniocha North LGA.
Though Elumelu applauded the smooth accreditation process with the BVAS, he said that ballot papers were under supplied, adding that no result sheet accompanied the election materials.
At Onicha-Olona in the same location, APC chieftain and Executive Director on the board of NIMASA, Victor Ochei, said that the exercise was peaceful and orderly.
Anambra
Voting continued very late in most parts of Onitsha following the late arrival of materials and INEC officials in polling units at the commercial centre and its environs, the polling units visited, Awada, Nkpor, Obosi, among others.
But in some communities with lesser number of voters, the exercise was concluded very early.
The Labour Party candidate, Obi voted at Polling Unit 019, Ward 2 in Amatutu village at about 11:57a.m and was accompanied to the polling unit by his wife, Margaret, who equally cast her vote there.
Meanwhile, at the various polling units monitored by our reporter, the exercise was very peaceful.
Although some of the officials of the INEC did not arrive at some of the polling units on time, the exercise was largely rancor-free.
Kano
Elections in most parts of the 44 local government areas of Kano was largely peaceful and orderly as eligible voters turned in good numbers to cast their votes.
Equally observed was that the elections witnessed a large turnout of women at different polling units across the state.
Sunday Sun observed a long queue of women in Fagge Ward in fegge Local Government Area, in Ganduje Ward in Ganduje town in Makoda Local Government Area, in Wailari ward in Makoda Local Government Area and at St Charles Polling Unit in the state capital
A cross section of voters told our reporter that the accreditation exercise was largely effective and seamless in their various polling units.
Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje confirmed the development in an interview.
He, however, pointed out that the accreditation was a bit slow when he was accredited, expressing the hope that the exercise would get better later in the day.
There were, however, a few incidents of late arrival of electoral materials in some number of wards such as in Masama ward in Nasssarawa Local Government Area of Kano where INEC officials failed to appear until about 1:00pm, resulting in tension in the ward.
Earlier in the day, some ad hoc staff of INEC at Dorayi Karama in Gwale Local Government picketed the centre for failure to pay them their N4,000 allowance. The matter was eventually resolved and voting commenced in the area.
From the point of security, some Fulani hunters caused a huge scare at Mutara Huta (Filling Wreca) in Sunmaila Local Government after they appeared at a polling unit with their gun strapped on them. One of them was arrested after they were chased by the security personnel in the area.
There was also huge presence of security personnel in Kwankwaso area of Madobi Local Government where the presidential candidate of the NNPP, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso cast his vote.
