Palmer Ogheneyole Nathaniel
There is visible anger in some units across Oleh, headquarters of Isoko South as voters who have come out enmass to exercise their civic responsibility could not be accredited as the new accreditation device failed to recognize their Permanent Voters Card (PVC). Some of the units visited were; Unit 15 Oleh Ward 1 and Unit 8 ward 1.
At Unit 15 ward 1, an angry voter told our correspondent that he was shocked to discover that his name was not found in the voter’s register, adding that his card could not be accredited by the machine. He queried the integrity of the election, stating that the process if not addressed could lead to the disenfranchisement of thousands of voters across the constituency
“I came here to vote only to discover that my name was not even in the register. The Machine could not even accept my card. Since morning, only very few persons have been able to votea”, an angry voter who gave his name as Ibomor Emmanuel, said.
The presiding office of the of the Unit, my Charles Toloto, admitted the glitches and attributed it to a technical fault from the device. He explained that although there was a serious setback in the accreditation process, but that there was improvement in the process.
“It is true that the machine failed to read so many cards and those people cannot vote as instructed by my superiors. But the situation is better now. As you can see, accreditation and voting are going on simultanously”, he said.
Another voter, Mr. James Agwo confirmd that he had voted. He expressed confidence that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Candidate Hon. Ovuakpoye Evivie will carry he day.
“I have voted. The process may be slow, but it is still moving. This unit has always been a PDP unit and as such we are confident that our candidate will carry the day.
At Unit 8 ward 1, the presiding officer, Miss Faith Aluya also confirmed the failure of the accreditation device. She said several voters could not be accredited at the beginning, but there was however, some level of improvement. She said the voters has so far been peaceful and orderly, adding that the entire process could be described as credible.
The by-election is been keenly contested by Dr. Ogaga Ifowodo of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s Hon. Ovuakpoye Evivie and Comr. Michael Emumena Paul AKA MC Paul of the Social Democratic party (SPD)
