The off-cycle governorship election witnessed the late arrival of INEC officials at polling units in some parts of Kogi.

Most places around the Lokoja metropolis encountered the late arrival of officials and materials.

INEC had announced that materials and officials were expected to arrive at their centres or polling units by 6:00 a.m.

Places like Adankolo, Lokongoma and Kpata encountered similar challenges.

Cornelius Stephen, a civil servant from Kano to vote, expressed disappointment with INEC, which had assured timely distribution of materials and the arrival of officials at polling units across Kogi.

“This election is different from what we experienced in the February 25 and March 18 elections. You can see that it’s 7:40 a.m. already, yet only security personnel are around here at St Luke Primary School, Adankolo, within Lokoja 1 Ward A,” he said.

However, the ward officials arrived at 8:15 a.m. and moved to their various polling units.

Abiola Choice, a presiding officer, said they came late to St. Luke Primary School, Adankolo, because of the late distribution of materials at the RAC Centre in Crowder Memorial College, Lokoja.

She added, “Even after we got the materials from the RAC (registration area centres), there was no vehicle to convey us to the polling units. 

“As you can see, we are trying to set the tables and also paste the voter registers on the walls for the voters to check their names to come forward for accreditation and voting. By God’s grace, in a few minutes, we shall be done with the setting for the accreditation to commence.” 

Some of the polling units had no agents of the 18 participating political parties.

(NAN)