Gwarimpa: Voters reject manual voting, urge INEC to redeploy card readers

Sat, Feb 23, 2019 | By publisher


Politics

Some voters in the Gwarimpa Model School polling unit 024 have refused to opt for the use of manual accreditation with the use of voter registers, following failure of the card readers.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the voters’ names were on the accredited list but the card readers could not recognise their fingerprints.

They, however, expressed fear that manual accreditation could result to manipulation of their votes.

Jenifer Oseji, a registered voter, said that they would wait for a new card reader rather than accrediting manually, adding that their votes might not count.

“Manual accreditation is just a way to manipulate votes and we would not do any accreditation without the card readers.

“If they know the card readers would not work why bringing it up at first,” Oseji said.

Similarly, NAN observed that there was a mix up in the voters’ accredited in Model Gate Polling unit, Gwarinpa and LEA Primary School, Galadima, Gwarinpa as both units had same code.

Prosper Onyekachuckwu, a voter, told NAN that it was difficult to locate his unit.

“I have gone to the LEA Primary School and I was told to go to model gate, I need somebody to help me.

Another voter, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said he did not know where to vote as both units had the same code.

However, the turnout of voters in both polling units was large as voters patiently took numbers and were on long queues to vote.

Some party agents, who spoke with NAN, expressed satisfaction with the process, however, expressed concern over the late commencement of voting.

The voting commenced at the Model Gate unit at 9:15a.m

Emmanuel Adzer, APC Party agent attributed the lateness to issue of logistics.

“Honestly, it was transportation; some of us went to our camps to help the INEC ad hoc staff locate their assignment location.

“We noticed that the number of staff is far more than the number of vehicles provided,’’ he said.

Ibrahim Shewaza, a PDP party agent, also said the arrangement in transportation caused the late arrival of the officials.

Meanwhile, Samuel Ikani, a Domestic Observer working with Action Aid commended the voters for their cooperation and orderliness.

He, however, expressed concern over the late commencement of voting.

“The fact that the INEC officials came 7:54a.m is a concern, it took them more than one hour to arrange the materials but they are in charge of the process.

“My worry is the time of commencement because time is of essence, however, the turnout is appreciating,’’ Ikani said.

In addition, a voter with disability, who identified himself as Jonathan, called on INEC to upgrade its manual process to electronic to enable people with disability to vote without stress.

Jonathan expressed his concern that People Living with Disabilities (PLWD) were not given special attention in the unit.

“I came here since 5.a.m and I have been on the queue without anybody helping me.

“INEC should eliminate manual voting to upgrade to electronic to ease the suffering of voters, especially PLWD,’’ he said.

NAN reports that the process was orderly and peaceful in the units.

There are seven polling booths in LEA polling unit and seven in Model Gate unit.

The polling unit 005 at Gwarimpa Village was having hitches with the card readers, which had slow down the process.

According to the voter, who witnessed the problem,  Mrs Godo Adaleku, the INEC Officials restart the card readers to speed up accreditation.

Adaleku said that the officials are doing all their possible best to ensure speedy and smooth exercise.

NAN reports that the officials were arranging for another card reader to ensure smooth exercise. (NAN)

– Feb. 23, 2019 @ 17:09 GMT |

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