Voters in Benin

Kazeem Ugbodaga

Some Lagosians are angry with the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, over shoddy preparation as poor logistics mar the ongoing exercise in some parts of Lagos, Southwest Nigeria.

In most places, accreditation started late, in some others, the card reader machines are not working while in others, INEC officials are yet to show up as at 10:00 am.

All through the stretch of Ekoro Road which falls under Ward ‘M’ Alimosho, with over seven polling units, INEC officials were yet to be on ground as at 9am with the people complaining bitterly over the development.

In polling units 080, 017, 022, 011, 021, among others, INEC officials were not on ground as at 9:00 a.m.

In polling unit 8, ward 7, Ifako-Ijaiye, two out of the three card reader machines are not working as INEC’s Ad-hoc staff complained that they had been calling their leaders to come around to rectify the situation to no avail.

In polling units 006, 022, 05, all in ward 7, accreditation started past 9:00 pm.
In Polling unit 55 and 001, Agege, INEC officials have not arrived as at 9:35 am, with angry electorate complaining bitterly over the development.

At polling unit 005, Awolowo Road, Ikeja, INEC officials have not arrived as at 9:45 am. The same goes to polling unit 041 in Ikeja.

At polling unit 008, Alausa, the two card reader machines are not working as frustrated electorate were asked to come back around 10:00 am.

An angry electorate, Olanrewaju Mustapha complained that he and others had been around for a long time, lamenting that INEC officials are yet to come.

The situation is across Lagos, with lots of hitches, but in some places, accreditation was going on without hitches.

It was gathered that electoral materials left INEC office around 9am due to logistic problems.