Anambra Election: Voting stopped in Nnewi, Ozigbo laments poor internet as faulty device delays Soludo

Voters in Polling Unit 002, Enem Hall, Otolo Ward 2, Nnewi North Local Government Area stopped voting late this morning, saying that original result sheets were not brought by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the on-going Anambra State governorship election.

Mr China Christian, a PDP supporter, said: “We have refused the commencement of accreditation/voting at PU 002, Enem Hall, Otolo Ward 2, Nnewi North LGA because the INEC officials did not come with original result sheet.

“Until we sight the election result sheet, voting will not commence. Those preparing to write election results in their hotel rooms will meet their waterloo today,” he said.

Elsewhere in the state, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Mr. Valentine Ozigbo, expressed worry over the poor Internet connectivity experienced by voters in the use of the Bi-modal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machine.

Ozigbo decried that it took him over 20 minutes to casts his vote and wondered what other voters would experience in various parts of the state.

Ozigbo had cast his vote at Social Centre, Unit 010, Amesi, Aguata Local Government Area, where he spoke to journalists.

He seized the opportunity to call for an extension of voting period, especially as voting is said to end at 2:30pm. He called on eligible voters to come out and exercise their franchise, assuring them of their security.

He further decried late arrival of materials at Awka South, Orumba North and other parts, and urged INEC officials to ensure materials get to those areas to avoid disenfranchising voters.

Meanwhile, voters at Isuofia Ward 13, polling unit 002 protested against the malfunctioning of INEC BVAS machine deployed to the unit.

Candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Professor Chukwuma Soludo was yet to vote as at the time of filing this report because of the non-working of the BVAS machine.

At Isuofia polling unit 001, voting was reported to have commenced at about 9:21 am but at about 10:30 am when our correspondent got to the Centre only about 15 voters had cast their ballots.

It was observed that residents came out in their numbers to exercise their franchise but INEC machines were either not working at all or working so slowly.

At Isuofia polling unit 005, voters equally lamented that since INEC polling officials started by 9:12 am only 20 voters were able to cast their ballots as of 11:00 am dot when our correspondent visited the polling unit. (Based on reports by THISDAY and Saturday PUNCH)