The candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Prof Chukwuma Soludo, is yet to be accredited.
The Bi-Modal Voter Accreditation System (BIVAS) machine deployed to his unit malfunctioned.
The former CBN Governor is with some of his kinsmen at Polling Unit 002, Isuofia Ward 13.
They were yet to be accredited as of 1.55 pm.
Details shortly…
Voters at Ward 5, Umuogbu village in Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State were unable to get accredited in the ongoing governorship election due to the failure of the newly-introduced Bi-Modal Voter Accreditation System (BIVAS) machines.
Some of the machines malfunctioned in many units, with voters complaining they were tired of waiting.
Presiding officers said the machines displayed “app not responding.”
An Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ad-hoc staff said the devices seemed sensitive to light and had failed to capture those who had come out to vote.
The BVAS is a system that combines fingerprint and face biometrics for voter verification.
INEC said the BIVAS integrates the three-stage voting process.
“It is an integrated device that is multi-functional in nature, which serves as Voter Enrolment Device (IVED) during voter registration, voter accreditation on Election Day and also functions as INEC Results Viewing Device (IReV Device) to be used for election results upload on Election Day,” an official said.
The Saturday governorship election in Anambra started generally peacefully with an impressive turnout of voters in most of the areas in Awka South, Njikoka and Idemili North Local Government Areas.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the turnout was impressive in the polling units in Nibo in Awka South, Enugwukwu and Abagana in Njikoka as well as Ogidi in Idmili North Local Government Areas.
NAN reports that there was adequate security in polling units, streets and roads in the areas.
Voting commenced in Umuaka Town Hall Ward 001 and Ward 005 both in Nibo about 9 a.m as voters were being accredited with the card reader working effectively.
The exercise took off peacefully in Ogidi at 9 a.m. too.
At Onua Square, Abagana, Emmanuel Akaogu told NAN that there was an initial hiccup because the card reader was not identifying his fingerprint, adding that he later voted.
He said that the security arrangement was “superb” and praised INEC and security operatives for the arrangement.
Mr Obi Ilochi, who voted at Ogidi Town Hall Ward 005, said he was happy that the government was able to provide a conducive environment for people to participate in the election.
“We are happy that the whole place is peaceful because it will be bad for Anambra to be the first state to record constitutional crisis as a result of not having an election in our area”, he said.
It would be recalled that Police had said that it made water-tight security arrangements across the state for the poll. (NAN)
Anambra State Governor Chief Willie Obiano has described the ongoing governorship election as credible.
He was among the first to cast his vote.
Obiano was accompanied by his wife Ebelechukwu to Otuocha Ward 4 Polling Station where they went through a rapid accreditation.
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The governor urged registered voters to come out and perform their civic duties.
He hailed the process, saying it was fast and easy.
Obiano expressed optimism that the exercise would be free and fair across the state.
“I ask Anambra people to come out and vote. Everywhere is peaceful. Come out and vote,” he said.
The flag-bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Anambra 2021 election, Dr Valentine Ozigbo has cast his vote at Amesi, Aguata.
He lauded the massive turnout of voters but decried the delay in voting process. He said: “I’m impressed. If not for the delay, everything has been perfect. The network failed and we had to improvise.
As of 10:44 am, only seven persons were accredited in Polling Unit 001, Ugundiuka 1, Otuocha 1 in Anambra East Local Government Area (LGA).
There are 782 registered voters in the unit.
Officials said the newly-introduced Bi-modal Voter Accreditation System (BIVAS) malfunctioned.
Voters are still waiting to be accredited.
Also in Unit 014, Ward 1, Onitsha North, voters said they had been queuing since 8.45 am.
Some expressed frustration, saying they may soon return home.
Anambra State Deputy Governor, Dr Nkem Okeke, has cast his vote.
He voted at exactly 10.04 am.
Okeke recently defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
He voted at Polling Unit 005 in Enugwu Ukwu Ward 3.
The Deputy Governor said the process was transparent.
He said he was surprised by the massive turnout considering earlier security concerns.
Okeke praised the Federal Government for the massive deployment of troops but regretted that there were no policemen in his unit.
He also expressed confidence in the biometric accreditation system, saying it was working without hitch.
Gov Willie Obiano and his wife Ebelechukwu have cast their vote, at ERI pri sch at 9:28am, Polling Unit 004, Otuocha Ward Ward 1, Aguleri in Anambra East LGA.
The Governor who spoke to The Nation immediately after casting his vote said, “I ask Anambra people to come out and vote. Everywhere is peaceful. Come out and vote,”
There was a large turnout of voters at the Amaesi Ward of Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra at the Saturday Governorship election in the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that voters came out as early as 7.30 am until the arrival of electoral officers by 8.35 a.m at the ward, which is the ancestral home of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), candidate, Mr Valentine Ozigbo.
Voting, however, began at about 9:40 a.m at Polling Units 5, 11, 12, 13, 15 located at the Social centre in Amaesi ward, Aguata LGA.
Mrs Agnes Okoli, a septuagenarian, told NAN that she got to the polling point as early as 7:30 a.m and had to wait till officials arrived.
Okoli said she was impressed with the peaceful manner everyone conducted themselves and expressed hope that it ended that way.
She said she was anxious to vote because it was her civic duty and that it was an opportunity for Amaesi to give Anambra their son as governor because one of the major candidates was from the Community.
Nze Matthew Echeozor, said he was at the venue when the officials arrived.
Echeozor said he was satisfied with the guidelines read out by the officials and urged the voters to adhere to them.
The Polling Official, who preferred anonymity, confirmed to voters that both the sensitive and non-sensitive materials including original result sheets were present.
The official said special attention would be given to the aged, persons with disabilities and pregnant women.
A combined team of Police and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) personnel was seen ensuring there was order. (NAN)
The absence of security agents and the late arrival of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials and materials are some of the complaints trailing the governorship election in Anambra State.
Our correspondent who visited some polling units in Aguata Local Government Area observed that there were no security operatives in all of them.
No reason was given for the absence of police personnel in the units.
It was gathered that the absence of security agents led to the late arrival of INEC officials and materials.
In some units, INEC officials refused to alight from their vehicles. They insisted they would not work unless they see security agents.
There is, however, a large turnout of voters in some polling units, especially where INEC officials have arrived.
A local observer from Zara Foundation, Chike Anyaonu, expressed worry over the absence of security agents in some polling units.
He said: “I have visited about four polling units in Aguata LGA here but I haven’t seen any security agent. This is very worrisome