Some voters have decried the malfunctioning of the Bimodal Voters Authentication System machines during the ongoing Federal Capital Territory Area Council elections.
Our correspondent observed complaints about the malfunctioning of the Bimodal Voters Authentication System machines at polling unit 006 in Gwagwalada Center, polling units in Piwoyi, Tudun Wanda in Wuse among others.
At the Gwagwalada polling units some voters who had come out to exercise their franchise as early as 6 am were angry as a result of the glitches experienced with the BVAS which stalled the election. They were, however, placated by INEC officials and security operatives.
A resident, Babatunji Olaifa, who was at the Government Secondary School, Tundun Wada, Zone 4, Wuse Abuja lamented that he could not vote because the BVAS didn’t capture his card.
He said, ”As I got to my specific booth (11) the youth corp member took my card and asked that I had to have my picture taken for verification. She however insisted that I must smile for my features to be captured (Never heard such a statement since I started voting in 1983).
“Shockingly I could not be verified either through the picture (I insisted that I was there to vote and not smile) nor were my biometric fingerprints verifiable.
“Note that I have voted at this same polling booth since the advent of our democratic process in 1999 without any issue and with the same voter’s card since these current ones have been in place (January 16, 2011, is the date on my voter’s card).
“I find it both reprehensible and outright unnecessary for INEC to stipulate more than the presentation of a voters card by the person whose picture is on the Voters’ Card as a form of verification each election cycle.
The sad part is that I was not able to vote in the FCT Council Election for the reason that “I refused to smile for INEC’s camera”.
“I am trying to imagine how many potential voters have been disenfranchised for this same reason who can’t or will not speak out.
This is my estimation is one of the causative factors for “low voter turnout” as always witnessed in our elections.
Something must give, somehow, someday. This cannot continue if this country is to make progress.
Another resident who gave his name as Sani at Polling Unit PU 158 at Piwoyi primary school also described the process as funny.
He said, ” The whole process looks like a child’s play. The INEC officials told the voters including myself to show their teeth during accreditation before we were captured. I was lucky to be captured but some had to try over and over again. I am sure this is due to challenges they faced with BVAS. I understand this is new but we need to work more on the BVAS before the 2023 elections.”
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