25th February, 2023
Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt
SDP governorship candidate in Rivers, Senator Magnus Abe, has said the BVAS machine in his ward, ward 16, Bera community in Gokana LGA was not working as at 10:36am.
Ward 16 has polling units 1-16.
A crowd of voters is also seen patiently waiting to vote.
At 10.48am
Governor Nyesom Wike expressed disappointment as BVAS failed to accredit him and his wife after waiting for a long time at his polling unit,in Ward 9 unit O7 Rumueprikom , in Obio-Akpor LGA.
INEC officials advised him to return later as they have invited their technical team to check the machine.
However, Wike advised INEC to ensure that their machines function well before the end of the election day.
Election materials were yet to arrive the Ward 9, Polling Unit 07A, on Ekani Street, Off Wimpey Junction, the PU of the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike as at of 9:40 am on Saturday voters, policemen, and other security officials were already on the ground.
No officer of the Independent National Electoral Commission,INEC, was seen as the tent meant for the ad hoc staff was still empty while people await developments.
While voting had commenced at Ward 10, Unit 8, Rumueme, Port Harcourt, with large youth voter population, at Ward 9, Units 13, 14 Elioparanwo, Port Harcourt, no INEC official was in sight. No election materials, either, and it’s almost mid-day
In another development,ballots papers meant for Rivers South West Senatorial election were found in Unit 3 Ward 1 Ngo Andoni local government area. INEC is yet explain what happened.