Uzodimma, Vote Bojo, Commends INEC on Deployment of BVAS
A number of registered voters in Imo State who voted for presidential and National Assembly candidates yesterday at the weekend were disenfranchised due to the absence of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials in their areas.
Ignoring the threat of a sit-at-home by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), many voters in various polling units of the country’s 27 local councils waited for the commission officials for several hours before reaching accreditation and voting when the Electoral Officers did not appear in the some areas at all.
Notably, many registered voters who turned up at the polling centers at Obudi Agwa in Oguta local council and Akwakuma Girl Secondary School in Owerri North local council waited until about 4:00pm before disbanding.
In some polling units in Mbaitoli local council, voting started at about 1:00 p.m. Meanwhile, there are also those who cannot vote because the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) is not working.
A Professor of Mass Communication at the Imo State University, Owerri, Dede Konkwo, expressed his disgust that the BVAS machines installed in the polling units were not working.
In some areas, election officials were also accused of not bringing the result sheets together with other election materials to the election units, although security agencies were not visible or insufficient in some election centers.
However, the Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma, and his wife, Chioma, are exercising their franchise in Polling Unit 008 in Omuma Ward, Oru East local council.
The governor commended INEC for the introduction of BVAS, stressing that the machine made the voting process easier and faster.
Uzodimma, who spoke after voting, said: “It was a smooth and comfortable experience today, as I and my wife, Chioma, voted for the presidential and National Assembly elections today, at polling unit 008, Omuma ward in Oru East local council.
“Looking at the past, INEC’s Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) innovation has simplified the process of accreditation and voting.
“The voter turnout is quite proportional to their enthusiasm and while I commend Ndi Imo for coming out to do his civic duty without the slightest threat, I commend the security agencies for their strength in the country and the nation. Nigerians are ready with their choice and our votes must be counted.”