Hundreds of registered voters in Imo State were disheartened by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday as they waited for hours to exercise their right to vote without seeing any official of the organization .
Several of these polling units are located in Akwakuma, Owerri North, Mbaitoli Council, and other places. Prospective voters reported waiting until Saturday night without seeing any official of the electoral Commission.
According to reports, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the chairman of the commission, listed Imo as one of the states where elections would be held in wards or polling places where there had been no voting because of the Commission’s error.
Voters enthusiastically arrived at their polling places at about 8:00 a.m. and waited until just before 5:00 p.m. before departing in disappointment for their homes.
Chioma, a passionate voter, expressed regret about not being able to vote for the candidate of her choice,
She said: INEC officials did not come to my polling unit in Mbaitoli Council on Saturday from 8:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. when I left. We later got information to return today. I came here about 8:30 a.m. and nobody is here until now (about 5:00 p.m.) and I am tired and going back to my home. I am not happy I did not cast my vote this election year. All the sensitization they gave us to come out en masse to vote; so, this is the outcome. Nigeria should change for the better.
In response, Dr. Chinenye Chijioke-Osuji, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Commission in the state, stated that they had not yet received a direction to that effect.
