141 Polling Units in Balyesa to hold election today, 3 Local Government Areas in Edo moved to 11 March
Oru Leonard
In response to the rising incidents of stealing of the Biomodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines by hoodlums and attacks on Electoral Officers, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu in a media briefing yesterday said that 141 Polling Units in Balyesa to hold election today Sunda, Feb 26, while Esan East, Esan West and Iguebe Local Government Areas electionns in Edo will be held during the Governorship and State Assembly elections on Saturday, March 11, 2023.
INEC Boss said the chaotic situation in Lagos is under control and that voting went on in most places under the strict watch of security agencies..
“We have a situation in Bayelsa state particularly in Yenagoa where in four Wards, Wards 4, 6, 8 and 14 involving 141 polling units, the process was disrupted.
“We remobilized security, the situation is calm for us to proceed with the process but the youth corps members expressed some apprehension of going back.
“So, we met with the security agencies and we have decided that voting in these 141 polling units, where the materials are intact, will take place tomorrow morning”, he said.
Furthermore, he also announced the suspension of election in Esan North, Esan South and Igueben all in Edo state due to issues with the ballot papers.
He stated that the election will now hold along with the State Constituency elections on the 11th of March, which is in the next two weeks.
Explaining further, he said, “In Edo state, we had a situation that we handled yesterday. One of the Parties whose acronym is on the result sheet but the logo is not on the ballot paper in a federal constituency; after meeting with the stakeholders, a resolution was taken seeing the materials are intact, to countermand the election.
“So, we have suspended the election for Esan North, Esan South and Igueben. The ballot papers will be reprinted and the election will now hold along with the State Constituency elections on the 11th of March, that is in the next two weeks”, he pointed out” Yakubu stated
He reassured Nigerians of the Commission’s determination to ensure that no Nigerian should and would be disenfranchised..
