2023 Elections: Voting Stalls In Uyo Capital

• Voters get stalled in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital while looking to exercise their rights.

• Distribution of electoral materials were delayed past 10:00 am as voters were made to queue up.

• The Divisional Police Officer of the Akwa Ibom division had to make provisions to convey Corp members to the venue to begin the electoral process.

EKO HOT BLOG reports that voters in Uyo, the capital city of Akwa Ibom State in Nigeria, experienced delays as the distribution of election materials was yet to begin in some units as of 10:00 am on the day of the presidential and National Assembly elections.

The materials were yet to be conveyed from the Registration Area Centre (RAC) located at Christ the King School, causing frustration among the waiting voters.

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Upon a visit to the RAC, it was discovered that many National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members who were on election duties were still waiting for vehicles to convey them to their respective polling units.

Some of the voters who were seen waiting patiently at different units for the materials to arrive complained of arriving at the venue as early as 7:30 am, indicating their readiness to participate in the electoral process.

In response to the situation, the Divisional Police Officer of A Division made frantic efforts for the Corp members at the RAC to be conveyed to their different units.

He lamented that many voters had been waiting for some time, and it was imperative that the electoral process commences as soon as possible.

Corp members were seen scrambling into the Hilux van that the DPO arrived with, and the driver was instructed to convey them to nearby polling units for accreditation and voting to commence immediately.

However, the arrangement for transportation of ad-hoc staff and materials was very chaotic, and there were several complaints from some ad-hoc staff members that their names did not appear on the ad-hoc list.

Meanwhile, in Uyo urban 3, voting had commenced in the four units. Officials from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) were present to check vote buying. In polling unit 13 at Saint Phillips Primary School, Use Offot, Uyo, the EFCC officials addressed voters and gave out their phone numbers to enable voters to report any issues of electoral malpractice, including vote buying.

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The delays in the distribution of election materials in Uyo have caused concerns among voters, and some have expressed fears that it may affect the credibility of the election in the state.

However, efforts are ongoing to ensure that the electoral process proceeds smoothly and without any hitches.

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