Group raises concerns over polling unit reassignments, vote buying

The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD-West Africa) has expressed concern over late polling unit reassignments, operational lapses, vote trading, and isolated disruptions during Saturday’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections. CDD-West Africa Director, Dauda Garuba, disclosed this in a preliminary assessment issued in Abuja on Sunday. Garuba stated that the organization’s Election Analysis […]

The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD-West Africa) has expressed concern over late polling unit reassignments, operational lapses, vote trading, and isolated disruptions during Saturday’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections.

CDD-West Africa Director, Dauda Garuba, disclosed this in a preliminary assessment issued in Abuja on Sunday.

Garuba stated that the organization’s Election Analysis Centre (CDD-EAC) deployed roving observers across all 62 wards of the FCT to monitor the conduct of the polls.

While he described the exercise as largely peaceful, he noted that administrative and logistical challenges significantly hampered voter participation in several locations.

“CDD reported multiple incidents where voters discovered that their polling units had been reassigned shortly before election day without adequate notice,” Garuba said. “At Polling Unit 055, Ouagadougou Street Ward in Wuse, more than 20 voters were reportedly unable to vote after arriving at their usual polling units, only to learn that their details had been moved elsewhere.”

He explained that the situation was worsened by movement restrictions across the FCT, which limited the ability of affected voters to locate their new units. This, he noted, potentially contributed to low turnout and weakened public confidence in the process.

The assessment also documented significant delays in the commencement of accreditation and voting due to operational shortcomings.

“At Polling Unit 004, Wuse Zone 2 Primary School in the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), only 504 names were displayed out of 751 registered voters. Meanwhile, no voter register was displayed at a polling unit in Wowo Nursery and Primary School in the Kuje Area Council,” the statement added.

Furthermore, Garuba noted that some election officials reportedly arrived with incorrect Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines, causing further delays as replacements had to be sourced.