ENUGU NORTH SENATORIAL BYE-ELECTION: BVAS FAILS TO CAPTURE APC CANDIDATE, ASOGWA

ENUGU NORTH BYE-ELECTION: BVAS FAILS TO CAPTURE APC SENATORIAL CANDIDATE ASOGWA The ongoing Enugu North Senatorial District bye-election was on Saturday marred by technical glitches and logistical challenges, with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) reportedly failing to capture the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Ikeje Asogwa, at his polling unit in Igboeze South Local Government Area. There was a large turnout of voters at Iheaka Central School, Asogwa's polling unit, as residents queued to participate in the election. However, attempts to accredit the APC candidate reportedly failed after the BVAS device was unable to capture his details despite several efforts by electoral officials. The development sparked concerns among party supporters at the polling centre, although voting continued at the unit. Asogwa was said to have expressed dissatisfaction over the incident. The election also witnessed reports of an alleged attempt to snatch election materials at Umuokara Village Hall in Orba, Udenu Local Government Area. Witnesses alleged that a man identified as "Okadigbo," whom some residents described as a known political thug, attempted to make away with a result sheet at about 9:15 a.m. However, the Presiding Officer at the polling unit denied the allegation, insisting that the result sheet remained in the custody of election officials and had not been tampered with. Meanwhile, voting had yet to commence in several communities across Udenu Local Government Area, local government of the Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Republic (PDP), Dr. Nestor Ezeme, as of mid-morning due to the non-arrival of election materials. Affected areas included parts of Orba, Imilike and Udunedem communities, where voters were still waiting for officials and materials as of 9:45 a.m. At Amube Orba, the polling centre of former Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, election materials had also not arrived as of 10:05 a.m., raising concerns about possible voter disenfranchisement and delays in the conduct of the exercise. However, Dr. Ezeme, casted his vote at about 11:45 a.m. at his Umundu polling unit. Although, he expressed concern over reports of electoral violence and the late arrival of election materials in parts of the district, describing the situation as a deliberate attempt to disenfranchise voters. He lamented that voting commenced late in several areas, noting that some polling units in his strongholds had yet to receive election materials as of noon. “The delay in the process is alarming, very alarming. Voting started here at about 11 a.m. Where I am coming from, Inland Primary School 2, as of 11:47 a.m., there were still no materials there. The same situation exists at the health centre in Ogwu Obollo. These are my catchment areas,” he said. The PDP candidate alleged that hoodlums disrupted the electoral process in parts of Obollo Afor, claiming that election materials were carted away. “At Ogwu Obollo, hoodlums came and carted away the election materials. Because they are not popular, they want to disrupt the system. But God will vindicate us. "Victory will be assured. I am certain that we will win. This is a deliberate and calculated attempt to disenfranchise my people,” he said “Voters have been waiting there since 7 a.m., and by almost noon, there were still no materials, no INEC officials and no police presence. It is appalling, and we condemn it entirely,” Ezeme stated.