NEWS EXTRA: INEC official collapses in Anambra

 

An Independent National Electoral Commission Presiding Officer fainted during the Anambra governorship election on Saturday.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the incident occurred at polling unit 005 in Enugwu-Ukwu in Njikoka Local Government Area.

The presiding officer, Miss Blessing Egoigwe, fainted at the heat of complaints by a thick crowd of people and confusion as a result of the malfunctioning of the BVAS.

The victim was later rushed to an undisclosed hospital for medical attention.

More than 470 voters were denied the right to vote at Enugwu-Ukwu Community ward 2 polling unit 005 in Njikoka Local Government Area.

The malfunctioning of the BVAS and the difficulty for the machine to recognise voters’ cards of newly registered voters caused the uproar.

Miss Blessing Okoye, 18-year-old and a first-time voter, said that she was denied the opportunity due to a lack of functional BVAS that failed to capture her fingerprint.

Okoye said that she was pained over the challenge and felt demoralised in the process and appealed to the electoral body to improve the system.

“My hope to vote for a candidate of my choice was dashed by INEC today,” she said.

Mrs Ifeoma Iloeze, a 55-year-old voter, said she was unable to vote after waiting since morning till this evening 6, 29 p.m., due to the BVAS failing to capture my face.

Iloeze said that the experience was painful and advised that an alternative way of voting should be in place in the next election, as it was sad to be denied the right to vote.

NAN reports that an INEC technician was alerted to the situation in the area, and he visited the polling unit, but little improvement was made.