2015 Election: INEC Extends Voting Into Sunday Due to Card Reader Flaw

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC have extended the voting process into Sunday following stations which had technical issues. INEC have directed its electoral officials to use manual accreditation for those that could not get accredited. However, some have reported that failure to get accredited was due to the protective film covering the lens of the reader. The INEC national commissioner, Chris Eyimoga told journalists in Abuja that the resort to manual accreditation is to ensure that the presidential election is credible, free and fair. This directive follows the challenges associated with the use of the card readers. 

Reports also coming in from different polling stations have attested to the peaceful conduction of the elections with the exception of the bomb scare in Enugu state and also the death of an individual in Rivers state. Other minor crisis that arose in some polling stations were quelled by the security operatives. Such was a man arrested with 300 snatched PVCs in Ebonyi state. It is worthy of note to mention that key politicians also cast their votes. Prof Yemi Osinbajo votes in Lagos state, President Goodluck Jonathan votes in Otuoke, Bayelsa state, Vice president Namadi Sambo votes in Kaduna state while General Muhammadu Buhari votes in Daura, Katsina state.

Overall, sources say people are excited and determined, turn out was good and the exercise across various polling stations were very peaceful. In fact, despite the rain at Opebi, Lagos state, people still turned out to cast their votes. Also, states like Yobe and Borno state participated in the exercise. For me, the election has not been a failure so far, however, INEC still need to get things right for subsequent elections. Card reader hitches could have been speculated and ways to resolve such problems would have been explored prior to the elections. As at the time of filing this report, the exercise had been concluded in many of the polling stations and counting was under way.