The Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, has been advised to adopt strategies that will correct challenges encountered during the Presidential and National Assembly election exercise to boost the confidence of Nigerians for democratic growth and development of the country.
National coordinator, Voter Education and Awareness of the APC Dr. Kailani Muhammad gave the advice shortly after casting his vote at Rigasa ward, Igabi local government area of Kaduna state.
Dr. Kailani while commending the INEC for its dogged effort toward ensuring a hitch free exercise , identified some of the challenges to include late arrival of election materials, malfunctioning of bimodal voter accreditation system BVAS, as well as lack of sensitive materials in some polling units.
He applauded the electorate for exercising their franchise even in the midst of economic and other challenges, noting that the exercise had ultimately provided them the opportunity to choose leaders of their choice in a very peaceful manner for the advancement of the country.
In the same vein, an eligible voter at Rigasa ward Dr. Yusuf Arigasiyu decried changing of polling units shortly before election , saying could disenfranchise many Nigerians.
He regretted that eligible voters such as the aged, pregnant women and people with disabilities were affected adversely, as locating their new polling units was difficult due to their condition.
Dr. Arigasiyu encouraged the electoral umpire to look into ways of correcting some of the challenges to avert future re-occurrence.
On his part, another eligible voter Dr. Abubakar Mohammed faulted INEC for late delivery of sensitive election materials and called on them to improve in the next election.
He attributed the low turnout to low dividends of democracy, awareness, as well as poverty on the side of the electorate.
An election observer Mrs. Grace Akpan in Sabon Tasha ward of Chikun local government area of Kaduna state said the area with 88 polling units experienced high voters turnout.
With the late arrival of INEC sensitive election materials, Mrs. Akpan pointed out that, the massive turnout was a pointer toward building a new Nigeria as people have had hard times due to poverty and lack in recent years.
Similarly, an observer under the platform of Initiative for Peace, Humanity and Social Inclusion for Women Mr. Yerima Philip said the low turnout of voters in some locations on Kaduna state could be attributed to lack of fuel and other economic crisis faced by people, and expressed hope that with the introduction of BVAS, the votes of Nigerians would count this time.
Radio Nigeria observed that in most of the places visited, there were heavy security presence, along side peaceful conduct of electorate, with some polling units experiencing late arrival of election materials among other things.
Places such as Narayi ward, Television, and Sabon Tasha in Chikun local government areas of Kaduna state, due to late arrival of election materials experienced delay as electorate cast their votes till late at night, while in some polling units people were disenfranchised due to the challenge associated with changing of polling units shortly before election.
Daniel Karlmax
