Issued: 2:00pm – Saturday, 6th November 2021
The Anambra State Governorship Election began as scheduled on Saturday, 6th November 2021. Reports from across the State from our networks of observers and partners showed late deployment of personnel and materials across the State. In most LGAs, INEC officials arrived at an average time of 9am. Instances of opening time beginning at 11am and beyond were reported in Ihiala and Idemili Local Government Areas (LGA) as well as Achala, ward 1,2 and 3 in Awka LGA.
Situation Room observers reporting from different Polling Units (PUs) indicate a modest turnout of voters. Voter turnout began slowly across the State with voters coming out early in some places. There were widespread reports of malfunctioning of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) causing delays in accreditation and voting. In most places, the fingerprints did not authenticate voters and there were lots of complaints on the photo capture and facial detection. In a few PUs our observers reported poor knowledge of the BVAS by the adhoc staff.
Situation Room observers reported a significant presence of security personnel at PUs, only a few polling units visited had no security personnel at all. Some of the security personnel our observers interacted with also complained about not receiving payment for election duty. In Awka North, security personnel refused to escort INEC officials to Achala Ward 1, 2 and 3 due to the delay in their payment. Although, a few of the security personnel confirmed receipt of their payment.
As voting time comes to an end at 2:30pm, Situation Room anticipates that tension may rise as anxiety mounts at the PUs where these delays have been reported. Situation Room calls on INEC to extend the voting time to enable citizens to vote. Situation Room also calls on INEC to increase the number of technical staff on the field to assist the adhoc staff in rectifying the glitches with the BVAS.
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SIGNED:
Ene Obi
Convener, Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room
Asma’u Joda
Co-Convener, Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room
James Ugochukwu
Co-Convener, Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room