Following disputes over polling unit relocation, INEC has rescheduled Sunday voting in 10 polling units at Victoria Garden City, VGC, Lagos.
In Butura Ward in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State, Asari-Toru LGA, and areas of Degema LGA in Rivers State, voting has been rescheduled for today.
The Commission relocated 10 voting units outside the VGC gate.
After meeting with residents, state Resident Electoral Commissioner Olusegun Agbaje told newsmen that voting would now take place today, Sunday, between 8:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
He said residents were told of the polling unit relocation outside the VGC gate after INEC officials were allegedly kidnapped during the February 25 presidential and National Assembly elections.
“Most were hesitant to come here today”.
Thus, we informed the estate authority that today’s elections would be held at the gate.Our officials arrived before 8 a.m., but the estate’s leadership said non-resident hoodlums could destabilize the process outside the gate. They felt insecure.”
Agbaje noted that INEC-designated polling units at VGC Park include eight and two outside the park.
He also noted that 5,624 of 6,024 city voters had obtained Permanent Voter Cards.
“When we arrived, we saw a different situation that was hard for security to contain.
“I had to inform INEC National headquarters about the situation and it was agreed that we should mobilise here tomorrow morning at 8.30 to conduct the election”.
“We still want corps members to come on Sunday. “If they don’t come, we’ll mobilize our regular staff because they’ll be free after today’s exercise,” Agbaje said.
Due to issues, INEC moved voting in Butura Ward in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State to today.
Dr. Oliver Agundu, the state INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, said ballot papers meant for the ward were mistakenly moved to another LGA.
He said the poll would be held on Sunday, March 19, to avoid disenfranchising residents.
He apologized for voting delays and shifts.
He encouraged community people to vote.
Rivers State will reschedule voting in Asari-Toru and areas of Degema LGA.
Dr. Johnson Sinikiem, Rivers State’s Resident Electoral Commissioner, said voters “resisted deployment of election officials and materials for Governorship and State” yesterday, preventing elections from taking place.
House of Assembly election. Voters and stakeholders asked to see the Ward Collation Officers before voting.
“At Ward 14 of Degema LGA, voters equally demanded that the SPO must come to the RAC with collation sheet, which is the responsibility of Collation Officers, thereby preventing election.
“Standing on this premise and relying on section 24 of the Electoral Act 2022, the INEC has decided to conduct the election of Asari-Toru LGA and Ward 14 of Degema LGA on March 19, 2023.”