2025:Election observers criticize INEC for late arrival of materials,

• Tasks politicians against vote buying, worries over nonchalant attitude of electorates

Felix Oti, Awka

Observer Groups monitoring the 2025 Anambra state off-cycle Governorship election have expressed concern on the Independent National Electoral Commissions’ (INEC), distribution of materials and late arrival of officialslate to the various polling centres across the states .

In his speech, the Kimpact Development Initiative ( KDI), team lead, Bukola Idowu, particularly frowned at what he called occuring attitude of INEC officials areiving late to polling stations ,which delays ad huc staff from settle down to d their work .

Speaking to Journalists while giving the preliminary statement on governorship election in Awka yesterday, Idowu linked the late arrivals of INEC staff and materials to absence of security officials without which the election officers could not move from state INEC headquarter to commence voting process.

He saiid, “The Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BIVAS) devices functioned optimally about 95 percent in some polling units, while in some areas, the BIVAS experienced minor network related disruptions, while the BIVAS failed to capture some finger prints requiring officials to revert to facial authentication to complete voter registration .

“We observed widespread compromise of ballot secrecy across several polling units where voters were seen openly displaying their marked ballots to party agents”.

KDI strongly advised all stake holders, including the electorates, party agents, security personnel and electoral officials to maintain peace, calm, decorum throughout the electorial process.

In their presentation yesterday, in Awka , the Centre For Transparency Advocacy (CTA) also observed that INEC officials and materials arrived late between 8:30am and 9 :30am, making voting to commence late.

The Executive Director, CTA, Faith Nwadishi, accompanied by Dr Emeka Ononamadu, an Expert Team member, who briefed journalists, in Awka, yesterday, hinted that one of their female observers, suffered a leg inquiry during an incident in Ihiala and was rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Nwadishi explained that there was low turn out influenced by voting apathy, expressing worry that at the Demonstration primary school, Agu Awka, members of a religious group were seen having prayer session around the polling unit.

According to her, in Azia and Osoumoghu, voting were relocated to Ihiala headquarters due to logistics failure, she said, regretting that logistics arrangements including hiring of vehicles were not readly arranged

“In Anambra west and Umunze no security personnel were seen as at 9:30 am, some who later complaimed of none payment of their working alowwance, even as they said only one thousan naira was given to each personel to buy snacks since they arrived the previous night.

” We are worried over millitarization of the state or country with armed men durimg election which creats its own problem to the public,… we ajould find a way to disentangle this problem”.

Similarly, The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) in their press briefing have expressed disappointment over vote buying issues during the governorship election

Speaking to newsmen in Awka, yesterday, the Director (CDD- west Africa), Dauda Garuba, declared that vote selling and buying has dented the image of Nigerians’ election process, insisting that, “Politicians, their agents, voters and security personnel at any polling center where such acts took place should be held responsible for disrupting the electoral process”.

He also explained that the low turnout of voters is as a result of the lack of trust on INEC, where many electorates expressed doubts that theire votes will not count.

“People are disappointed, disillusioned and openly worried over the out come of previous elections, making them not to participate fully. Youths engaged in playing football on the streets while adults were seen gathered drinking beer in beer parlour or playing drafts on election day”.

He charged the political class to ensure empowerment of the masses, warning that when youths cannot move on for a better life, it is a dangerous trend for the nation, insisting that, ” The political class must think out for a good welfare and economic wellbeing for Nigeria and build a country that Nigerians will be proud off “

END.