The governor of Cross River State in southern Nigeria, Professor Ben Ayade has decried the late distribution of electoral materials to polling units across the state.
Professor Ayade, who cast his vote at 14.08 hours on Saturday’s presidential and national assembly elections at Polling Unit 033, Ipong Ward, Obudu local government area, lamented that the people would be disenfranchise owing to the late arrival of the election materials.
He said, “I am surprised that the time is already gone past two o’ clock and I just cast my vote. We did not have electoral materials until 1 o’ clock and when the materials did get here, there was not a single INEC (Independent National Electoral Commission) staff available to attend to voters.
“Worryingly and according to INEC, its Rack Technology System (Rack Tech) switches off at a certain time in Abuja. What is the possibility that my people will not be disenfranchised? This is a heavy populated area and some people were already tired and left out of frustration.
“As a governor and one time senator, if I could not vote until it was eight minutes past two; it is also a big worry for me. Beyond that, I have equally received calls from other polling units expressing concern about late arrival and non-availability of INEC staff.
“What this seems to suggest is that there is a deliberate manipulation to ensure that votes from Obudu are lowered, occasioned by the machines either not working or are being shut-down. This indeed, is disturbing, to say the least,” he lamented.
He expressed the hope that INEC would allow every single person to perform her civic duties without being institutionally disenfranchised.
Ogoja peaceful
Similarly, the incumbent senator of the northern senatorial district, Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe has cast his vote at the Saint Michae’s Primary School, Nkum Erede Ward, Ibil Nkum Ogoja local government area.
On the conduct of the election in Ogoja area, the senator said: “So far there has been absolute peace in my polling unit at Nkum Rede Ward. No bullying, no intimidation and no harassment. From what I observed, democracy will prevail and I am happy.
“I commend security agencies because I can see what they are doing. I implore them to continue what they are doing so that there would be peace and no bloodshed. And that would allow people to vote where they would want to vote and not be disenfranchised.”
