Breaking: iNEC extends Anambra election to Sunday Nov. 7

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended the Anambra State governorship election to Sunday, November 7.

Anambra State went to poll today to cast their votes for the candidate of their choice in the ongoing polls that held Saturday.

The extension was announced by the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Nwachukwu Orji.

Dr. Orji said the extension was due to the series of field reports of the malfunctions of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).

The extension came after after the commission earlier extended the period of voting from 2:30pm to 4:30pm because of complaints from the field.

Town Crier News earlier reported the malfunction of the BVAS in Isuofia, where the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate, Professor Chukwuma Solludo went to vote. 

It took several hours before he could cast his vote, prompting his complaint, reasoning that if what happened his ward as well as the several complaints he has received from other areas, it means a lot of voters will be disenfranchised.

Similarly, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige had similar challenge of the malfunction of the BVAS.

Announcing the extension, the REC said: the opening and closing and of poll opening of poll remain between 8:30am to 4:00pm.

He however, noted that the revised closing time allies only to areas where polling units opened after the commencement period of 8:30am.

According to him, “In line with existing regulations and guidelines of the Commission, any intending voter who is on the queue by 4.00 pm shall be allowed to vote. All Polling Unit staff must comply with this directive. 

Orji said: “The extension of time arose out of several field reports that voters have had problems with accreditation. The Commission is currently investigating the reason the  accreditation devices, Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), have worked perfectly in some Polling Units, but not in others.

“In some of the cases, it would seem that this resulted from software glitches. Our technicians have already built an update to the devise software to prevent further challenges. The update is currently being installed in the concerned BVAS and we request voters, candidates and agents to be patient and allow our technical staff to solve the problem. 

“The Commission wishes to reiterate that in cases of sustained malfunction of the BVAS, the Presiding Officer must inform the voters and polling agents that accreditation and voting for the affected Polling Unit shall continue tomorrow or at another time determined by the Commission. With this extension of time and the recommencement of accreditation where the BVAS consistently malfunctions, the Commission assures that no voter will be disenfranchised.

“Our deployment has also been adversely affected by transportation challenges in some locations. It must be noted that on account of security concerns, some of the transporters that were mobilized and collected 50% of their sign on fee backed out at the last moment, leaving some of our ad-hoc staff stranded.

“Also, some of the trained ad-hoc staff backed out at the last moment. The Commission is on top of these challenges and extant regulations and guidelines will be applied on a case by case bases.

“Consequently, we are harvesting areas where voting will realistically no longer take place today, including places where substantial disruption has occurred, to enable a possible recommencement of voting at another time, in line with extant laws and the regulations and guidelines of the Commission. 

“We appeal to all voters, candidates, stakeholders communities and political parties to remain calm and law abiding. We assure you that the Commission is determined to a make all votes count.
Thank you.”