Anambra 2021: Ihiala Council records late commencement of voting, as voters fume over failure of INEC’s BVAS machine

[From CHINEDU NWAFOR]

Voting commenced very late in the entire Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, due to late arrival of electoral materials.

As at 12:47pm, voting has not commenced in the entire council area.

Voters were seen at the polling units confused with no INEC officials to explain the cause of the delay.

A visit to Aforigwe community market with two polling units under Ogboro ward, the story was the same.

It is also the same situation at the polling unit at St. Theresa Catholic Church Uzoakwa Ihiala where INEC officials and security operatives were not seen on ground.

Voters who spoke to Journalists alleged conspiracy and attempt to truncate the exercise in the Ihiala LGA.

Meanwhile, there was a controversy at Otolo Ward 2, polling unit 002, Enem Hall, Nnewi North Local council area over allegation that the INEC officials did not come with original result sheets.

The development halted accreditation and voting in the area, as of the time our Correspondent visited the area.

The voters insisted that until they sight the election result sheets, voting would not commence.

Efforts to speak with INEC official and the adhoc staff at the unit failed, as they refused to react to the allegation.

Meanwhile, voters in Anambra have expressed frustration over the non functionality of the INEC’s BVAS machine.

Among those who have expressed dissatisfaction is the candidate of the PDP, Valentine Ozigbo, who called for extension of voting time to enable all eligible voters cast their voted.

Also, the Managing Director, Chief Executive Officer of the Anambra Broadcasting Service, Dr. Uche Nworah  while commenting in the development, said the non functionality of INEC’s BVAS machines was a disservice to the people.

The ABS boss while speaking with Journalists said he had been at Enugwu Ukwu Umuagu ward 1 unit 004 as early as 7am and only one out of the 709 registered voters had voted as at 11.15am, due to failure of the machine.

He called on INEC to find other means of ensuring that voters were not denied their rights of choosing who governed them in the next four years.

In a related development, the state chairman of the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Anambra State, Sir Norbert Obi was also experiencing difficulty to vote, due to failure of the authentication machine.

As at 2pm, Obi as well as thousands of voters in his home town Ozubulu in Ekwusigo local council area were yet to cast their vote.

Obi while interacting with Journalists said he came out since morning to cast his vote at his ward II, Umuekwe community schoolvery early, but the machines were malfunctioning.

He said similar problem was being experienced in the entire Ozubulu, even though he acknowledged that INEC staff are working hard to rectify the issue.

“I have been here since morning. The machines are not working. Most of the machines in Ozubulu are not working but INEC technical staff is working round the clock. The turnout of voters is high but we cannot vote”, Obi said.