Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja

The West African Network of Peacebuilding (WANEP), in partnership with the Economic Community of West African State (ECOWAS) and African Union (AU), have condemned the delayed arrival of voting materials and non-functional card readers in some polling units across the country, resulting in a number of Nigerians being disenfranchised.

  This is even as the observers reported at least 31 major incidents including a 19-year old boy who was killed at polling unit 006 Ajetachi in Ayangba, Kogi State, over refusal to vote for a party.

  The observers also reported armed attacks and explosions in Borno and Yobe states, the intimidation of voters at several polling stations in Okota, Aguda, Alimosho and Oshodi/Isolo LGA in Lagos State, as well as burning of ballot boxes in ward 018 in Ago Palace Way and 023 Baba Ewe area in Okota LGA, ballot boxes snatching by suspected political thugs, who chased voters away in PU 036 of Obisanya street, Mafoluku, Oshodi LGA, among others.

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  In Delta State, the observers reported that “PU 005 of ward 2 was moved to a secondary school. The gates of the school were locked, preventing observers and voters from gaining entry to the premises. However, members of a particular political party were allegedly allowed entry.”

  Addressing the media on the reports from its 114 observers deployed across the country, Professor Isaac Albert, chairman of the Eminent Persons Group; Chukwuemeka Eze, Executive Director WANEP and Aisha Ado Abdullahi, co-chairman of the Eminent Persons Group, said they took stock of the voting process in the 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, using the Arc GIS technology that was developed by the ECOWAS.

 Abdullahi said WANEP observers while noting the commencement of voting on time in most polling stations across the country, however, reported late opening of polls in several stations due to late arrival of polling officials and materials.

 She said: “In some cases, as at 10:00 am, materials were yet to be distributed to areas such as Gwagwalada Area Council of FCT and Mashi LGA of Katsina State.