By Taiwo Ajayi, Corpers’ Journey Correspondent (Reporting under the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development – CJID)
The ongoing Anambra Governorship Election faced disruptions on Saturday in parts of Alor, Idemili South Local Government Area, and Igbariam, Anambra East, as poor network connectivity and absence of electoral officials hampered the voting process.
At Central School Alor in Idemili South LGA, where five wards (1, 2, 3, 4, and 5) were expected to vote, activities in Ward 4 were delayed due to poor network connectivity that stalled the operation of the INEC Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).
According to reports obtained by the Corpers’ Journey correspondent under CJID’s election monitoring project, electoral officers made efforts to restore the system and begin accreditation, while voting in other wards continued smoothly.
At another polling location, Nkwo Ide Alor, covering Wards 6 to 10, voting was observed to be ongoing without major disruptions, with voters casting their ballots in an orderly manner.
However, a different scenario played out at Polling Unit 17, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), Igbariam Ward 5, in Anambra East LGA, where no voting took place as of 1:30 p.m.
The polling unit, which has 19 registered voters, recorded a total absence of both voters and most ad-hoc staff. Only one corps member serving as an INEC ad-hoc officer was present. She told CJID’s correspondent that she had arrived at the location the previous day and slept outside overnight after collecting election materials, but her team members failed to show up for duty.
She also lamented that residents claimed the polling unit was no longer in use, raising questions about why INEC still deployed materials there. Photographs from the scene showed an empty voting area with no activity recorded.
The incidents highlight ongoing logistical challenges faced during the Anambra Governorship Election 2025, including poor network infrastructure, delayed staff deployment, and gaps in voter information dissemination.
#AnambraDecides2025 #AnambraElection2025 #AnambraVotes #NigeriaElections #CJID #INEC #CorpersJourney #DemocracyInAction
No Comments