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FCT POLLS UNDER FIRE: Voters Stranded, BVAS Blunders, and Last-Minute PU Shuffles!
The ongoing FCT Council Elections are currently hitting a fever pitch, but not necessarily for the right reasons. While residents turned out to exercise their civic rights, a series of logistical “hiccups” from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are threatening to mar the process.
From missing names to “alien” machines, here is the situation on the ground:
1. The Last-Minute Polling Unit “Magic”
In a move that has left many fuming, INEC reportedly changed the Polling Units (PU) of several voters just hours before the commencement of the polls.
- The Catch: This reshuffle came right on the heels of the movement restriction order issued by the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike (effective from 8:00 PM Friday to 6:00 PM Saturday).
- The Conflict: Under Section 24 of the Electoral Act 2022, while INEC has the power to manage polling units, doing so without adequate notice effectively disenfranchises voters who cannot trek long distances to their new locations due to the strict ban on vehicular movement.
2. “Where is My Name?” — The System Glitch
Reports are pouring in from various wards of voters unable to find their names or voter numbers in the system.
- The Manual Voting Question: Many are now asking if manual voting will be allowed.
- The Legal Reality: Nigerian law is very strict on this. Section 47(3) of the Electoral Act 2022 stipulates that if the BVAS fails to authenticate a voter and a replacement isn’t provided, the election in that unit must be suspended and rescheduled within 24 hours. There is no provision for manual voting where the electronic system fails to recognize a voter.
3. BVAS Identity Crisis
Perhaps the most bizarre update is the arrival of INEC officials at certain polling units with wrongly configured BVAS machines.
- Voters at these units are currently stranded as the machines are programmed for different locations, making accreditation impossible.
- This technical oversight has led to high tensions, with many accusing the commission of poor preparation despite the “work-free” Friday granted to streamline logistics.
