ANAMBRA GUBER: MALFUNCTIONING BVAS FRUSTRATES VOTERS IN ANAMBRA EAST LGA
REPORTER : ONYINYE CHIJIOBI
Some voters have expressed worry about the mal functioning of the BVAS machine, which denied them the opportunity to exercise their franchise in Saturday’s Anambra State governorship poll.
They made their feelings known in some of the polling units visited by Radio Nigeria in Aguleri, Anambra East Local Government Area.
In some of the polling units visited, voters were seen waiting patiently for the challenge to be rectified in order to cast their ballot.
Some of the wards visited included Otuocha ward 1, units 001 and 005; Mgbailo and Mgboko public square units 011 and 007; Aguleri ward 1 as well as Umuala Eziagulu Aguleri ward 1, units 005 and 006.
Radio Nigeria gathered that INEC adhoc staff arrived at their various polling points at about 7:44am while accreditation and casting of votes by the voters started around 8:50am.
While the BVAS machine captured the faces of some voters, others were not able to be captured.
In Otuocha ward 1, where the State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano and his wife Ebelechukwu, exercised their franchise, voters turned out in their numbers to vote for the candidate of their choice.
In an interview, the Governor expressed optimism that the exercise would be hitch free.
He urged the people to exercise patience as the challenge of the BVAS machine would be rectified and expressed satisfaction with the level of security agents at the polling units.
At Mgbailo Public Square Aguleri ward 1, unit 011, the story was different as the INEC adhoc staff was not able to capture a single voter.
Also at Mgboko Public Square Aguleri ward 1, unit 007 and Umuala Eziagulu units 005 and 006, the BVAS machine was relatively working.
In an interview, some of the domestic observes expressed sadness about the malfunctioning of the BVAS, saying that they also observed that some of the materials given to the INEC adhoc staff were not complete.
Earlier in the day, INEC announced extension of the voting deadline to 4pm.
The INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Anambra State, Dr. Nkwachukwu Orji, said that the extension of time arose out of several field reports that voters have had problems with accreditation.
He appealed to voters, candidates, stakeholders communities and political parties to remain calm and law abiding, assuring them that the Commission was determined to make votes count.
Meanwhile, voting was extended to Sunday in areas where the malfunctioned BVAS denied people from voting.