Human rights’ activist, Omoyele Sowore, has stated that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) through its shoddy preparations compromised the Anambra State governorship election.
Sowore said this on his Twitter handle on Saturday, while taking a swipe at INEC that the electoral body could not be trusted with conducting elections even in a high school.
He wrote, “#AnambraDecides2021 Incompetent, corrupt and compromised @inecnigeria officials have officially bungled Anambra guber election, the way they planned it! I’ve said it a million times, this current @inecnigeria can’t conduct a free and fair class rep election in a high school.”
#AnambraDecides2021 Incompetent, corrupt and compromised @inecnigeria officials have officially bungled Anambra guber election, the way they planned it! I’ve said it a million times, this current @inecnigeria can’t conduct a free and fair class rep election in a high school
— Omoyele Sowore (@YeleSowore) November 6, 2021
His comment follows reports of delay in the arrival of election materials, faulty Bimodal Voter Accreditation System machines and vote-buying by party agents.
At the Central School, Ward 01 and 02, Amaezike Mgbakwu, Awka North Local Government Area of the state, election materials arrived four hours after the election had started in other places.
SaharaReporters had earlier reported how some of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (machines) deployed for the election were faulty, stalling the electoral process.
It was also reported that the malfunctioning of INEC’s BIVAS machines as well as the tense insecurity situation on Saturday affected the turnout and smooth flow of the Anambra State governorship election.
“Inadequate staff, fear of unknown gunmen, scarce ad hoc staff and transporters, BIVAS technology broke down in most polling units,” an update received by SaharaReporters had read.
SaharaReporters earlier reported that the capturing machine at Prof Charles Chukwuma Soludo’s Polling Unit/Ward, PU 002, Ward 13, Isuofia, Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State, did not work for hours and delayed the process.
Soludo is the flagbearer of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the Anambra 2021 governorship election.
Eighteen political parties and candidates are in the Anambra governorship race.
