#NigeriaElections2023 : Every Nigerian On Queue Will Vote — INEC Chair, Yakubu

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has said every Nigerian on queue will vote despite delays.

He said no matter how long it takes, everyone waiting before the close of voting at 2.30 pm will be allowed to vote.

While acknowledging that officials and materials arrived some polling units late, he said information from across the country indicate that the BVAS machines were functioning optimally.

He said an attack by suspected bandits in Alawa area of Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State delayed the deployment of men and materials to the area.

On the complaint by some parties that they could not find the tags for their agents, he said the commission allowed the parties to nominate their own agents and upload the names on a dedicated portal which they did.

“We did not interact with them directly,” he said.

He said the agents’ tags were dispatched to the states and collected by the state chairmen of the parties.

Yakubu added that some of the parties failed to submit names of agents for some polling units.

He warned that the commission will not accept more than two accredited agents for collation of results.

The INEC chairman added that a situation where people quarrel over who is the authentic party agent during collation will not be accepted.

Yakubu also noated that the BVAS had functioned optimally in most parts of the country and that complaints about its functionality were minimal.

However, he acknowledged that the inability to open polling units at 8:30 am in some locations had been a challenge. This was due to logistic problems, despite the commission’s best efforts, and insecurity.

Yakubu also reported that thugs had attacked a polling unit in Oshimili, Delta state, and stolen two BVAS machines.

However, INEC replaced the stolen machines, restored security, and ensured that voting continued. Similarly, in Safana LGA of Katsina state, thugs attacked voting locations and snatched six BVAS machines, but INEC had been able to use spare machines and reinforce security for voting to continue. While security agencies have recovered three of the stolen BVAS machines, three are still in the hands of the thugs.

Yakubu noted that the attacks targeted the BVAS machines and not the ballot boxes. In conclusion, he expressed optimism that the electoral process would continue smoothly, despite the challenges encountered so far.

Sources:Thenigerialawyer