The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) lamented reports of violence at certain polling places nationwide on Saturday, February 25, as registration and voting for the presidential and National Assembly elections continued.
Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines were taken from voting places, according to INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, who also promised to look into complaints of attacks by bandits and thugs and respond appropriately.
In response to enquiries during a news conference in Abuja, Yakubu stated that some of the delays around the nation were caused by the polling places opening later than expected due to security concerns.
“We couldn’t deploy early enough to Alawa in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State. Bandits launched an attack, not necessarily on INEC officials, but in the area,” he said.
“So, on the advice of the security agencies, we tarried a while. But I’m happy to say that we were able to deploy to Alawa and voting in that location is ongoing as we speak.”
In Safana LGA, Katsina State, criminals assaulted one of our voting locations and stole six BVAS machines, Yakubu told journalists, while thugs reportedly attacked a polling unit in Oshimili Local Government Area of Delta State and stole two BVAS devices in the process.
“But again, determined that elections must continue, we were able to replace the stolen BVAS machines, reinforce security, and voting continued in that location.”
“Happily, the security agencies have recovered three of the BVAS machines, but three are still held by the thugs,” he said.
“So, in these locations, the target of attack was actually the BVAS machines – no longer our ballot papers or ballot boxes. But in the two instances, we were able to recover and continue with the process.”“Voting hasn’t ended; we’re sure we’ll overcome whatever challenges and every Nigerian will have the opportunity to vote,” he said.
“There are some, should I say, bandits or insurgents that were firing from the mountain top in Gwoza – just firing at random.
“That was what we were tracking before we had to come to be brief, so we’ll continue to track. At 4:30 [pm] we should be able to give further update on that,” he said.
