… Test Running machines during election not proper – Hon. Isa Dobi
BY OBUTE JAMES
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC on Saturday conducted election to elect council chairmen and councillors, for Abaji, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje, Kwali, and Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC).
Though voters turned out in some polling units, the process was slow due to failure of machines deployed by the commission.
In some polling units, a voter tried up to 4 to 5 times before the machine displayed his/her details for accreditation before such person proceeds for voting. However, in some polling units, the machines failed woefully leaving the electorate stranded.
Many complained that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machies could not recognise them, even though their names were on the register published by INEC.
A former member, who represented FCT in the House of Representatives, Hon. Isa Dobi lamented over the failure of the machines in several places.
“You don’t try a process during an election. most of these machines are not working. Hon. Dobi told journalists at LEA Primary School, Dobi, Gwagwalada Area Council where he went to cast his vote.
Similarly, a candidate of APC and Chairman of Kwali Area Council, Danladi Bomboyi also told journalists shortly after he voted at a polling unit in Primary Healthcare Care Centre, Kwali that the process is very slow.
Danladi expressed optimism that the people of Kwali will vote him to power again due to his achievements in the last three years.
Similarly, Alh. Rabiu Adamu, PDP chieftain told THE LEGISLATURE in an interview that he suspected foul play in the conduct of the election.
Adamu made this known at a polling unit in an open space, Angwa Fulani Ward 2, Gwagwalada where non of the voters that gathered were able to complete the process for voting. As at 11.45am no voter has voted in the polling units due to failure of the machines. THE LEGISLATURE observed that there are about 4 polling units in the areas.
473 candidates from 14 political parties are participating in the election. 363 contestants are vying for the 62 councillorship positions in the six area councils.