Chaos at Abuja Polling Unit as INEC Deploys Wrong BVAS Machine, Leaving Voters Stranded!
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Chaos at Abuja Polling Unit as INEC Deploys Wrong BVAS Machine, Leaving Voters Stranded!
Reported by Marian Opeyemi Fasesan, Editor-in-chief | Sele Media Africa
Confusion disrupted voting at a polling unit in Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT) after officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) reportedly arrived with an incorrect Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machine, leaving dozens of voters unable to proceed with accreditation and voting for several hours.
The incident occurred during the ongoing Area Council elections in the Federal Capital Territory, where residents are electing local government chairpersons and councillors across six area councils. Election officials were said to have discovered that the BVAS device assigned to the polling unit did not correspond with the unit’s voter register, preventing the accreditation process from commencing.
Voters who had gathered early expressed frustration as delays mounted, with some fearing they might be disenfranchised if the situation persisted. Eyewitnesses reported that electoral officers attempted to resolve the issue while awaiting the arrival of a replacement device.
The BVAS machine is a critical component of Nigeria’s electoral process, designed to verify voters’ identities using biometric data and prevent multiple voting. INEC has consistently described the technology as a safeguard for election credibility, deploying thousands of devices across polling units nationwide. However, technical and logistical challenges have occasionally disrupted voting in past elections, requiring replacement devices or manual intervention before polling could proceed.
Reports of administrative lapses and technical difficulties have surfaced in isolated polling units during the FCT polls, even as election authorities maintain that voting has proceeded smoothly in many other locations. Observers note that while such incidents are often resolved on election day, delays can discourage voter participation and raise concerns about operational preparedness.
INEC has yet to release an official statement specifically addressing the incident at the affected polling unit. However, the commission had earlier assured voters of its readiness for the elections, including the deployment of upgraded BVAS machines and trained personnel to support a credible process.
Similar logistical and accreditation issues have been reported at some polling units in Abuja, including cases involving coordination problems and voter register discrepancies, underscoring the operational pressures that often accompany large-scale elections.
Despite the disruption, election observers emphasized that isolated technical setbacks do not necessarily reflect the overall conduct of the polls, noting that accreditation and voting commenced on schedule in several other polling units across the territory.
Sources
Punch Newspapers
Premium Times
The Guardian Nigeria
Channels Television
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