From Boniface Okoro, Umuahia
Logistics challenges and failure of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) characterized the generally peaceful Presidential and National Assembly elections in Abia State on Saturday which recorded massive turn out of voters.
In Umuahia metropolis, accreditation and voting started in many polling units as from 9 a. m, while in many others, the exercise commenced as from 12 noon due to late arrival of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials and materials.
By 10 a.m, accreditation and voting were in progress at Community Primary School, Amuzukwu which had three polling units, and Girls Secondary School, Amuzukwu, with about eight polling units where large number of voters turned out to vote.
Both polling stations are in Umuahia North Local Government Area.
Same scenario was witnessed at St. Stephen’s Primary School beside St. Stephen’s Anglican Church, along Bonny/Niger Streets, Umuahia, also in Umuahia North.
At Post Office on Aba Road at the heart of the state capital, accreditation and voting were progressing simultaneously smoothly.
Trouble was brewing at Amuzukwu Mbara as at 3.20 p.m when voters at the polling unit noticed that ballot papers for Senate contest were in short supply.
Though poll officials tried to explain that they came with what was given to them,.youths at the polling station contended that they were not telling the truth and vowed that the INEC official would not leave the place until the balance of the ballot papers for the Senate were completed.
Similar tension was building up by 3 p.m at Community Primary School, Amuzukwu, where it was alleged that result sheets for senatorial poll were not supplied.
A youth who did not want his name in print vowed that no result would be taken out of the place unless the correct and proper result sheets were brought.
At Old Umuahia Primary School II in Umuahia South Local Government Area, Hon. Ejim.Chibuzor complained of late arrivsl of materials and malfunctioning of the BVAS machine which was later rectified.
He said INEC should have provided more BVAS machines for polling units with huge population, noting that one BVAS machine for the unit was grossly inadequate and slowed down the process.
Hon. Chibuzor noted that massive turn out of voters was an indication that voter apathy was on the downward trend.
At Ameke Alayi in Bende Local Government Area, a former Executive Chairman of the Council, Chief Gabriel Elendu, lamented that INEC officials and materials arrived the area by 3 p.m.
Even at that, he said the BVAS malfunctioned before it was fixed.
Though Elendu noted with happiness that voting was proceeding peacefully , he pointed out the late commencement of the exercise forced a lot of people to go back home in anger and frustration.
He disclosed that the community had to employ the services of a Town Crier to woo the people to come back when the poll officials arrivEd with voting materials, with some voters returning.
Similarly, President -General of Akoliufu Alayi Development Union, Chief Comrade Uchechkwu Kalu, told newsmen at Amaoku/Amaukwu Town Hall that materials arrived the area by 2 p.m.
However, Chief Kalu expressed happiness that there has been no hiccup since accreditation and voting commenced.
“The exercise has been peaceful. We have had no challenges. Security-wise, we have no challenges. If the voting is like this in other areas, we will commend INEC for a job well done,” he said.