Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said the Biomodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) deployed for the elections was functioning optimally.
Yakubu stated this at a media briefing on the ongoing election at the national collation centre in Abuja.
While admitting that some of the polling units in the 36 states, he blamed perennial logistics problems and insecurity for the late arrival of machines and materials.
He said: “The BVAS accreditation system deployed nationwide for the first time has been functioning optimally in most parts of the country and we hear actually less and less of complaints about the functionality of the BVAS
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“So based on the reports that we have received from the various states of the Federation, and in the Federal Capital Territory, some challenges were identified, one of which is the inability of the Commission in a number of places to open the polling units at the appointed time,
“Some of the polling units open late but in line with our policy any Nigerian who is on the queue will have the opportunity to vote no matter how long it takes, until the last person on the queue before 2.30pmvotes, no matter how long it takes.
“Some of the reasons why we couldn’t open the polling units on time. One the perennial problem of logistics in spite of our best effort, I think in 2023, we conquered the challenge of getting election materials to various locations. Yes, there may be complaints here and there but generally speaking, we were able to deliver hundreds of millions of ballot papers and sheets that were supposed to deliver for the election.
“Another contributing factor to the late opening of the polling units is actually the perennial insecurity in the country.”
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