At Saraki’s polling unit, late arrival of materials worry voters

Sadly, all is not well in Ilorin as Voters at the polling unit of Nigeria’s Senate President, Bukola Saraki, decried the delay in the arrival of INEC officials and voting materials Saturday.

The unit is located in Agbaji quarters in Kwara State capital, Ilorin.

According to the electoral commission’s guidelines, the poll for the presidential/senatorial polls of Saturday opens by 8:00 a.m. and closes by 2 p.m.

But this newspaper observed that as at 8:25 a.m, INEC officials and materials are not at sight with the electorate lingering around in their numbers.

Some of the voters who spoke with PREMIUM TIMES at PU 003 Agbaji ward of Ilorin West Local Government Area, condemned the delay caused by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Akin Salaudeen, a resident of the area said; “You know Nigerians mentality of timing and if they (INEC officers) don’t come on time, there will be another delay because the people are out in large numbers. That may cause trouble.”

Another voter, AbdulKabeer Fatimah, also decried the delay.

“I’ve been here since 6:00 a.m. because I stay far away from here. I came early to meet up with the scheduled time. It’s unfortunate that INEC is the one delaying,” she told this paper.

Similarly, at a polling unit in Agbo-oba area of Ilorin, a logistics concern is expected to cause a delay as voting materials meant for another unit in Adewole was supplied to the Agbo-oba unit.

“Our materials in Agbo-oba aren’t the ones we have here. Some are for Adewole 007. We hope this would not create confusion,” Bayo, a voter, said.

Meanwhile, at Isale Aluko area, voters have out in their numbers to exercise their rights. Our correspondent observed that security situation in the area had been beefed up to address breakdown of law and order.

@Premium Times