INEC Okays Polls’ Extension, Regrets Delays, Moghalu, Others Kick Over Faulty Card Readers, Late Materials’ Arrival

BY COBHAM NSA, EDMOND ODOK, SEGUN ADEBAYO, EVELYN DADU – The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has blamed delays in the commencement of elections in some polling units on security challenges and contingency issues with some members the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).

This is as the Presidential Candidate of the Young Peoples Party (YPP), Mr Kingsley Moghalu has decried the non performance of card readers in his ward at Nnewi North ward 2 in Anambra State.

In a preliminary report on the ongoing Presidential and National Assembly elections, INEC National Commissioner in charge of Information and Voter Education, Mr Festus Okoye announced that the Commission has approved an extension of voting time in areas where such delays were reported.

Speaking at a news conference at the National Collation Centre (NCC) in Abuja, Mr Okoye, who was flanked by Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Mr Rotimi Oyekanmi as well as Director, Voter Education, Publicity, Gender and Civil Society Liaison, Mr Oluwole Osaze-Uzi, explained that such extensions would be commensurate with the number of hours lost to the delays.

According to him; “With regards to the opening of polls, in some states of the federation, we recorded 100 percent and in some others, we recorded over 90 percent. We are in touch with all the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) and our Electoral Officers (EOs) in the local governments and they have given us reasons why polls were delayed in some areas. Some were security related while others had to do with the NURTW.”

He further stated that; “The second challenge is the malfunctioning of the smart card readers. In all such places, we have directed the RECs and Electoral Officers to replace those card readers.”

Okoye also said the electoral umpire’s technical support officers are in all the Registration Area Centres (RACs) to help out if there are emergency situations.

The INEC National Commissioner also said; “the commission has decided to extend polls in areas where polling did not start on time. For instance, where polling started 12pm instead of 8am, the extension would be for four hours.”

Okoye explained that INEC recorded 100 percent compliance or success on opening of polls between 8am and 12pm in Ekiti, Katsina, Kebbi, Ondo, Edo and Osun, adding that Adamawa State recorded 34 per cent while Imo and Kano States witnessed 80.18 and 75.98 per cent respectively.

Moghalu, others unhappy with challenges

In his reaction on the polls’ conduct, Presidential flag-bearer of Young Peoples Party (YPP), Prof Kingsley Moghalu criticized the non performance of card readers and late arrival of INEC officials and elections materials in his ward at Nnewi North ward 2 in Anambra State.

After returning to cast his vote at about 11.55am following the card readers’ malfunction in the area, Prof Moghalu said; “I came out by 8 a.m to vote but the card readers were not functioning; so I went back to my house and came out by almost noon to vote.

“As you can see, some voters left out of frustration having waited for about three hours. This will affect voting pattern.”

Acknowledging that democracy has huge challenges given INEC’s constant performance failure, the YPP candidate boasted that things will change for the better with Nigerians voting for him in today’s polls.

FCT Voters Complain, Cheer Gen Gowon At PUs

For voters in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), it has been a mixture of complaints and cheers for INEC over the polls’ conduct.

While voting commenced as early as 8am in all the polling units located in the Esu Chief Palace, Durumi 1, Abuja, voters were seen in long queues at the Durumi 2 Primary and Secondary School as at 10.05am with voting yet to commence following late arrival as well as shortage of election materials in the centre housing about eight polling units.

One of the voters, who was patiently waiting for the process to commence, Uche Gregory told our correspondent that most of them were at the centre before 6am but unfortunately the INEC officials and security personnel arrived around 9am with no official explanations on reasons for the delay.

However at Karu and Nyanya in the outskirts of the Abuja City Centre, it was all cheers for former Head of State and elder statesman, General Yakubu Gowon, from voters as he went around some polling units with other elections observers

Gowon, who is the convener of Nigeria Prays as well as head of the Yakubu Gowon Foundation arrived at the Nyanya Federal Housing Authority (FHA) Estate polling centre at 11:57am.

He thereafter went round the different polling units and voting points to encourage electoral officials, security personnel, political party agents and voters.

Donning INEC’s branded khaki jacket with the inscription; ‘Domestic Observer 2019 General Elections’, the elder statesman also praised voters for the large turnout to perform their civic responsibilities.

In Ebonyi State, the National Assembly member representing Abakaliki/Izzi federal constituency, Chief Sylvester Ogba, lamented faulty card readers at the Ndinkwegu-Amagu Primary School polling unit in Abakaliki.

After casting his vote, Chief Ogba noted that the card readers failed to work for over an hour before it was eventually rectified by the INEC officials.

In acknowledging that the problem was later fixed by a technician, Ogba attributed the peaceful atmosphere within the area to the sustained enlightenment campaign among the people to maintain peace and orderliness during the voting process.

According to him, “This is the ancestral home of our people and we abhor acts that threaten the lives and property of the people.”

Also speaking, former Senator representing Ebonyi North senatorial district, Chief Sylvanus Ngiji-Ngele, lauded the people and INEC for peaceful conduct of the elections. – With agency report.

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