Voting commenced amidst card reader challenges in parts of Bomadi/Patani

Accreditation of voters was delayed and voting time was extended in parts of Bomadi Local Government Area due to late arrival of materials to the polling stations.

Due to the terrain, the Electoral Officer in charge of the Local Government Area disclosed that materials were moved to the 7 Registration Area Centers in the Local Government Area for onward distribution to the various wards and units between 5:30 to 6:00 am.

At 10:45 when this reporter visited some polling stations including ward 6 unit 1 at Ogbenama community, the card reader could not capture the data of the Delta South PDP senatorial contestant Senator James Manager who was later accredited manually.

Baring his mind on the failure of the device to capture his data, Manager said, “the card reader is a failure”, adding, “I am a Senatorial contestant. This is my card, the card reader failed to read my card”, he stated. The exercise was peaceful as a large crowd of apparently enthusiastic voters had already queued up in an orderly manner waiting to take their turn.

According to the Presiding Officer Rita Joshua accreditation started 10:00 am after sorting the materials. Some voters, Mr. Azebiri Victor and Julius Wilson who spoke said they have their cards but their names could not be found on the register.

At Akugbene community the story was different. The ward 7 units 5 & 7 visited there was a large turnout of voters as the exercise was seen going on peacefully. The presiding Officer Efungwu Marcellus disclosed that “Though, there were initial hiccups with the card reader, it was later overcome".

Speaking to Journalists, Hon. Nichols Mutu the PDP candidate for Bomadi/Patani Federal constituency said “everything is going smoothly here in Akugbene. But I got reports from other centers that there are challenges with the card reader. INEC should have tested the card reader on a pilot election not in an election of this magnitude”. He therefore called on INEC to improve on the card reader, just as he advised the electorate to remain patient as everyone would be accredited to vote. 

Voting commenced in parts of Patani at 2:30 without challenge from the card reader. The Council boss, Josephine Abeki lamented short supply of material, which she said did not tally with the number of accredited voters. 

While commending INEC for the conduct of a hitch free poll in Patani, Abeki scored the electoral body "98%". However, it was gathered that materials arrived late to the polling units in Patani.

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