AnambraDecides: Soludo laments failure of INEC’s BVAS; Andy Uba hails process

Messrs Soludo and Uba, candidates in the ongoing governorship election in Anambra, gave differing assessments of the process.

News Agency of Nigeria • November 6, 2021

Chukwuma Soludo and Andy Uba

The candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in today’s governorship election in Anambra, Chukwuma Soludo, has expressed shock over the malfunctioning of the Bimodal Verification Accreditation System (BVAS).

Mr Soludo, who arrived at the Polling Unit 002, Ward 13, at Ofiyi Square, Isuofia in Aguata Local Government Area, at about 12:15 p.m., could not be captured by the BVA system.

He said: “This BVA technology is a complete failure, and by almost 1:00 p.m. in the day, voting is yet to start in most of the polling units in the state.

“And in places where it is working, it takes about 20 to 30 minutes to capture a voter. With this crowd, even if the device starts working now, it is not possible to finish up within record time.

“It raises fundamental questions because I’m quite shocked to hear that this technology breakdown is happening all over the state.

“Maybe we will still be optimistic that the challenge will be fixed. I have been here for over 20 minutes, yet no way.”

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been experiencing technical challenges in the use of the BVAS device to capture voters in many parts of the state.

Mr Soludo also decried the inadequacy of INEC staff and security personnel in some polling units.

“For example in Uke, there is a ward with 17 polling units but only five have INEC officials. The other 12, no officials.

“There is also the security issue, here in my polling unit, no single policeman.

“In Ihiala, I got a report that materials up until now have not left the local government. It is a very unfortunate situation. INEC should do the needful and make this process successful,” he said.

Conversely, the candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Andy Uba commended the electoral umpire on the smooth conduct of the election.

Mr Uba made the commendation during a press interview in Uga, Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra, on Saturday when he arrived his Uga Ward 1 to cast his vote at polling unit 17.

He expressed satisfaction with the voters presence at the ward and encouraged the voters to vote out non performing political parties.

Mr Uba urged voters who are yet to come out to vote to do so for their chosen candidate.

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