….soldiers, police abandon crowd control, say not their job
…Process recorded high turn out
Fom Idu Jude, Mararaba Nasarawa State
As the 2023 general election in Nasarawa state recorded high turn out of enthusiastic voters, it was a case of dashed hope as all preparation towards casting vote to prefered candidates turns a night mare with no discovery of their polling unit as at the file of this report.
Begining from 7am in the morning, it was from one trouble to another, with late arrival of INEC officials to the venues to voters being unable to locate their polling units as well as names missing in the INEC voters registration list.
This led to thousands of individuals scamper from one polling unit to the other with the aim of finding their units to vote.
The drama began to unfold, when on the arrival of INEC officials by 9.30 am list of registered voters was pasted but with disappearance of names of thousands of voters whose polling unit reads same 008 voting unit.
Many waiting voters, who has expressed dismay over the incident, indicated that the latest discovery has revealed another myraide of confusion and disenchant in INEC operation.
Mr. Ibrahim magaji, a polling Agent of the peoples Democratic party PDP, exclaimed that all efforts made by him and his family has become waisted as new problem emerge each minute.
Ibrahim, said, “You see, Iam getting more confused and it is like this polling unit 008 is full of trouble. And I can say that my discovery is same to other intending voters here. This voting polling unit, is always problematic. How can my card read 008 polling unit and on reaching here, my name is missing on the list of registered voters? Can you see the contradiction? Ibrahim hopes the unfolding problems at the polling unit does not reflect at other polling units across the country as such may spell doom for the entire process.
The presiding officer, of the 008 polling unit Mararaba, Mr Philip Salami, a corps member, told our correspondent that the polling unit has just 5,31 voters in it’s voting capacity as against the huge crowd waiting to vote.
Salami, while insisting on the list given to him by INEC, said that the problem is beyond his control. He however warned that voters, should extend search to other units to be able to locate their polling units.
Many intending voters, failed to find their names Alphabetically as only those with Alphabet (A) existed in the 008
Meanwhile, Soldiers and Police posted to ensure peace told Daily Sun that crowd control of desperate human beings are not directly their area of Jurisdiction.
A unite of soldiers on INEC operational duty, through its leader captain Maxwell Dung, said that the people has failed to comport themselves for easy accreditation and so would take their leave.
However, accreditation and voting has began with little hope that the crowd of people may eventually cast their votes to prefered candidates
Enthusiastic voters who trooped out to excercise their franchise , has expressed disappointment over non identification of their polling units to cast their votes.
Daily Sun can report that many willing voters were disappointed at densely populated Mararaba Nasarawa state as thousands of people have failed to locate polling units owing to the failure of INEC to issue possible and clear identification of units before the voting day.
Many however, complained to our reporter that the scenerio threw untold hardship on willing voters wonder distances with no hope in sight.
Miss Grace Musa, said that she had walked to several places to ensure that she gets her unit and vote. Many also expresses disappointment.
Daily Sun also recorded quick response of the Nigerian soldiers as it arrested a man with name Abdulahi Tanko, who is allegedly of All Progressive congress APC for parading fake INEC voters list at polling unite 008 Mararaba garage 2.
Recall that the polling unit has in the past recorded highest voters in Karu local government each general election.
Mr. Tanko, who appeared with list allegedly informed waiting voters that he has an endorsed INEC voters list for the unit and must be adhered to strictly.
Tanko told the waiting voters the list is merely for those who are meant to cast their votes in the unit 008 and anything shot of that remains invalid. This however, generated confusion as may voters reacted to attract the attention of waiting soldiers on duty who acted swiftly to arrest and whisked him away to an unknown distinction.
Reacting to the incident, a polling agent of Labour party Mr. Joseph Ogbu, expressed shock over the incident. He also shrugged over the late arrival of INEC officials at 9.30 in the morning after vote has began at other places.
Mr. Ogbu, said, “It is disappointing that INEC has failed to live up to the expectations. They made promises and as at this point they have not surfaced. And it is on record that this polling unite remains a hot spot each election year with its large population. So they should have made adequate arrangements. Secondly, look at what we are witnessing with this large turn out, so many people till this moment could not locate their polling units due to misplacement by INEC and low voters education”
At polling unit 105 Mararaba, voting also began late at 950 am according a INEC polling Agent Nsima-Alfred Vincent. The agent also told daily Sun that though voting started late, but seem peaceful with a small number of registered voters of about 750 in the polling unit.
At polling unit number 101, INEC agent Mr. Victor Emmanuel, said that apart from voters having the problem of locating their polling units that the process have been moving without hitches as about 170 registered voters are expected to cast their vote with no problems.
He however, blamed logistic problems for the delay in starting early as scheduled. voting at the unit began at 11.10 am .
Voting is still ongoing at various polling units and more desperate intending voters running heltas skelter looking for their polling unit as at the filling of this report.