LG poll: Late arrivals of materials delay voting in Benue

Late arrival of materials delayed the commencement of Saturday local government election in Benue State.

Voters waited several hours before they could exercise their franchise.

Our correspondent, who visited some polling units at Wadatta and Ankpa quarters in Makurdi, noted that the election materials were received between 3:00 pm and 3:30 pm in the state capital.

Few voters were later seen at the polling units casting their votes.

A voter at the Central Mosque polling unit in Wadatta, known as Dauda, told journalists that several people who came out to cast their votes left when the materials didn’t arrive on time.

He said, “It was around 3:05 pm that the electoral officers brought election materials. Since my workshop is here, I decided to come back to cast my vote.”

At the time our correspondent left the polling unit around 4:05 pm, only eight people had come to exercise their franchise.

One of the electoral officers, who spoke with our correspondent on condition of anonymity, said the election materials were distributed very late.

He said, “Even right now, we were asked to come here with the election materials without result sheets.

“So, we are hopeful before we leave here, they will bring the result sheets. Even, the pen I am using, I bought it here,” the presiding officer said.

At the time our correspondent left the polling unit at about 4:05 pm, the result sheets had yet to arrive.

Meanwhile, the election was hitch-free across the state.

Speaking with journalists, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Steve Yabanet, described the election as ‘very peaceful statewide.’