Late arrival of officials delay accreditation in Abuja

The delay by official of the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) to polling units on Saturday delayed accreditation in Abuja. Weekly Trust reporters who went round the city observed that in Kado phase 1 and Kado Phase 2 polling units INEC officials had not showed up at 8.20am and 9am respectively. Voters at the polling units […]

The delay by official of the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) to polling units on Saturday delayed accreditation in Abuja.

Weekly Trust reporters who went round the city observed that in Kado phase 1 and Kado Phase 2 polling units INEC officials had not showed up at 8.20am and 9am respectively.

Voters at the polling units complained of the laxity of the INEC officials. “We were told that accreditation will start by 8am but till now we are yet to see any of its officials. INEC has for weeks said they were ready for this election, why then the delay in bringing the materials to us” Mr. Emeka Charles, one of the voters asked.

Though INEC officials were not on ground at Kado, the security agencies were on ground to monitor and control the crowd. On the other hand also the voters coordinated themselves by making temporary queue cards so that everything moves smoothly when INEC officials arrive.

“Some of us have been here since 6.30am and by 7.30am when we noticed the officials were not around and voters were gathering in large numbers we took it upon ourselves to make temporary cards so that people pick as they come and can go back home to come back when the officials arrived. We just hope that our efforts will be appreciated,” he added.

A visit to Wuse 2 showed that the INEC officials just arrived and the presiding officer was addressing the voters. While addressing the voters he explained why there would be preferential treatment for the elderly, disabled, nursing mothers and albinos. Accreditation started at 9.35am. There were hitches with one of the card readers but it was immediately replaced. The presiding officer also addressed the party agents and urged them not to speak or cause anyone but if they found anything fishy, they should call the attention of the INEC staff.

At Wuse 2 AP plaza, everything was going on smoothly, though accreditation also started late.

PACT observers were also on ground to observe the whole process. At Wuse Zone 2 LEA primary school, INEC staff were seen attending to people where there were about eight accreditation points.

Maitama FHA polling centre started late at about 11am. The presiding officer explained that there was a mix up with locating which polling unit they were supposed to go to.

“Actually we came here late because we were stationed somewhere else but found out that all the voters were not getting accredited and when we reached to INEC headquarters we were asked to verify our polling unit and make sure we were at the right place.

“We actually did and found out that we were not at the right place and had to come here. Reaching here we started accreditation immediately and things have been moving smoothly,” the presiding officer said.