By-election: Okpebholo, PDP chieftain lament malfunctioning of BVAS in Edo
Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo and a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Ovia North-East Local Government Area, Mr Otote Famous, have decried the malfunctioning of Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS, in the senatorial and Federal House of Representatives by-elections in the state.
DAILY POST reports that Okpebholo and Famous spoke in a separate interviews shortly after voting at Ward 2, Unit 1, Udomi Primary School in Esan Central and Ekiadolor Primary School, Ovia North-East Local Government Area, respectively.
Okpebholo noted that although the exercise was peaceful, the BVAS machines deployed by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, were causing unnecessary delays.
“Well, I just voted. You can see the frustration. The BVAS is just too slow. It takes too long before you can get accredited. I think INEC needs to look into this. So far, so good, the feelers I’m getting are good,” he said.
The governor who arrived at the polling unit at about 9:45 am voted at 9:52 am after necessary accreditations.
On his part Famous lamented that more voters would be disfranchised if something urgent is not done by INEC to put the BVAS in order.
Famous added that several persons have voted while over 20 others have not been able to vote because of the BVAS.
“A good number have voted but over 20 persons at as 10:00 am have not been able to vote because the BVAS is malfunctioning.
“INEC officials have been managing the BVAS. Since they started the machines have been having issue.
“We have complained to the officials here to do something but they told us that it has been reported to their office,” he said.
Also speaking in the election, Charity Airobarueghian Ighodala, the Minority Leader in the Edo State House of Assembly, commended INEC and the electorate for the peaceful conduct of the election.
Ighodala, a PDP lawmaker representing Ovia North-East constituency in the State House of Assembly, however said the election is marred with voters apathy.
“This election as expected is not like the general election. The low turnout is due to palpable voters’ apathy. There is a very low level of participation by eligible voters. They are not coming out, this is due to probably to the outcome of the September 21, 2024 governorship election and inadequate publicity of the by-election,” he stated.
He, however, commended the commission for the workability of BVAS machines in his voting unit at Ward 4 located at the Ekiadolor Primary Healthcare Centre.
By-election: Okpebholo, PDP chieftain lament malfunctioning of BVAS in Edo
