2 weeks Ago By Ayobamiji Komolafe
Frustration grew among voters at Ward 7, Unit 39 in Ugbekun as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BIVAS) machine failed during the ongoing Edo State Gubernatorial election in the state The incident, which affected all the 839 registered voters in the unit, left many seated around, anxiously waiting for a replacement machine from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The polling unit’s official confirmed that the INEC was working to provide a new machine and expressed optimism that the voting time would be extended to accommodate the delay. One of the voters, Friday Aiwekhoe, a senior citizen, voiced his disappointment, calling the machine failure “appalling” despite the extensive preparations INEC had reportedly put in place.
He expressed fears that the issue might be politically motivated, suggesting that it could be a deliberate attempt to disenfranchise the electorate in the area. “We expected a smooth process, especially given the importance of this election, but it seems there’s more to this than just a technical fault,” Aiwekhoe remarked. As voters continue to wait for the arrival of the replacement BIVAS machine, many are calling on INEC to ensure that such technical issues are addressed promptly to avoid further disenchantment and loss of trust in the electoral system.
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