Hundreds of prospective voters, who came out to vote in their respective polling units in Kaduna, during today’s presidential elections, experienced malfunctioning card readers, even as INEC officials failed to be at their respective posts as scheduled.
Some card readers, ink, and other instruments used in the presidential elections in some local government areas of Kaduna state rejected voters’ fingerprints, as there were faded ink, markers among others.
Although INEC voting materials were moved to various collation centres as early as Friday evening for onward distribution to various polling units Saturday, February 23, most of the items distributed were faulty and could not function properly.
Interestingly, Kaduna residents trooped out en masse as early as 7.00am Saturday, queued, and waited for the 8 am accreditation/voting as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Unfortunately, they were delayed for hours due to the late arrival of voting materials, as INEC complained of lack of vehicles to convey materials as scheduled.
DAILY POST correspondent, who visited some local government areas of the state, observed that some voters in Kasuwan Magani who queued for hours waiting for accreditation and voting were rejected as card readers could not pick their fingerprints.
Some voters in L.E.A Kasuwan Magani 1, Kasuwan Magani 11, Gidan sarki, Dutse Gaya Primary school, Rimou 2, reading room, Hakimi 11, Post office road 1&2 polling units could not vote early as scheduled due to card reader malfunctioning.
In Sabo Tasha , Chikun local government, polling units such as Post office road junction, NNPC road, Alidimaya street, had the same problem with card readers, but voters later voted as soon as INEC officials rectified the problem.
Speaking in an interview, Mrs. Paulina Udeh, one of the voters in Sabo Tasha, thanked God for casting her vote in spite of difficulties faced during voting.
Her words: “I am grateful to God for casting my vote successfully. At least, there is peace in the state. We were able to vote without hindrance.”
Also speaking, Mr. Aluwong Barnabas, who vowed that nothing will discourage him from today’s voting, said he travelled from Abuja to cast his vote in Kaduna where he got registered.
“I was in Kaduna the previous Friday, so I can vote but elections were postponed. I still come again. I thank God as elections went peacefully without hindrance. Though, there was little hiccups but not as people envisaged.”
A national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Sen. Bola Tinubu, has said that he would accept the result of the presidential election even if it did not go the way of the party.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Tinubu spoke with journalists after voting at Polling Unit 047, Ward 3, Ikeja at 11:20am.
He said that the will of the electorate must be respected, adding that as a true democrat, free and fair elections must be protected.
Tinubu was, however, upbeat about his party’s chances of winning the elections.
“If my party is voted out in this election, I will accept it because it is the people’s verdict, that is their decision. Any democrat that cannot accept a result from a free and fair election is not worthy of that name.
“As a true democrat, you must be able to accept the results of a free and fair election.
“My hope and determination of my party is that we are winning this election because we have the support of the masses and if you look at our rallies, it is an indication of our party’s popularity that we are the populace.
“We are not talking about the elites or those that are rich, but the poor masses, farmers, traders, artisans and the common man who seek for continuity,” he said.
Tinubu, however, rated the conduct of the elections as successful so far, adding that though elections were expensive, yet it remained the best way of choosing leaders.
“The election has been successful so far, so good. It has demonstrated the resilience of the people and like the President has said; we have chosen the best way in a difficult way.
“Democracy is the toughest way of selecting a leader but the best system. With resilience of the people and strong determination we are getting there,” Tinubu said.as at the time of filing this report, voting was still in progress.
