The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says
all eligible voters in the queue before 2:30pm will exercise their franchise.
Mahmood Yakubu, the INEC chairperson, said this on Saturday
while briefing journalists at the national collation centre in Abuja, on the
ongoing general election.
When asked about reports on delayed voting in several locations,
the INEC chair said no eligible voter will be disenfranchised.
“Yes, we opened some polling units late. And we admitted
that in some places, some polling units were opened late but the system has an
automatic mechanism to recover lost time,” he said.
“We don’t start
8:30am and close 2:30pm on the dot. If we start later than 8:30am, whoever is
on the queue before 2:30pm will vote, no matter how long it takes.
“So, no Nigerian will be disenfranchised on that score,
provided he or she is at the polling unit before 2:30pm.”
Yakubu also said the commission is aware of the late
deployment of materials to some polling units in Abia and Imo states.
He, however, assured Nigerians that elections in those
locations will hold.
“There are unfolding situations in Abia and Imo states. In
Abia, the deployment is taking place late to the polling units. The commission
is aware and we are assuring voters in Abia state that no matter how late we
deploy to the polling units, if voters are on the queue before 2:30pm, they
will vote no matter how long it takes,” he said.
“We are also aware of the situation in Imo state, in respect
of four LGAs — Okigwe, Oguta, Orsu, and Orlu.
“There were issues in all 11 wards in the whole of Orsu. In
the whole of Orlu, six wards out of 11; in the case of Okigwe, five wards out
of 11; and in the case of Oguta, it is more widespread.
“I had a discussion
with the inspector-general of police this morning and the military and our
officials have been escorted to all four locations. I take it that voting would
have commenced in some of these difficult places. But if it doesn’t, I will
assure voters in those locations that elections will hold and they will not be
disenfranchised.”
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