Election: Reps member calls for calm over BVAS displacements in Funakaye
From Chima Azubuike
The member representing Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Yaya Tongo, has called for calm in Toungo town in Funakaye Local Government Area, of Gombe state, urging Independent National Electoral Commission to rectify issues of displacement of Bimodal Voters Accreditation.
Tongo, made this disclosure in an interview with journalists at ugwan Bauchi polling unit 001 in Toungo ward, shortly after casting his ballot, where he expressed worries over displacement of Bimodal Voters Accreditation System machines.
At Yardo Primary School which has polling unit number 011, it received BVAS 09, and as at 12pm residents were yet to commence voting, likewise Wurodole where a similar challenge was observed as that the time our Correspondent left the polling units voting had not started.
Tongo, who is seeking re-election into the House of Representatives also called on the INEC to resolve the issue and allow his constituents exercise their franchise.
He said, “I have been told that ballot box for the presidential election was taken to one of the polling unit, only boxes for the Senate and Representative members were provided at the unit. Meanwhile, at other units the BVAS provided were not fully charged for the exercise.”
Speaking further Tongo added, “Even though the officials assured that the issue is being rectified, this displacement and other challenges identified in this ward has presented a very big challenge for voters in my area.”
Confirming the situation, Presiding Officer of Yardo polling unit in Toungo ward, Saeed Abdullahi, said the displacement of the BVAS was unfortunate, adding that once the actual machine was retrieved the accreditation process would commence.
Abdullahi said, “We came to the unit at around 9am and after setting up our equipment we discovered that the BVAS we were given was not for the polling unit. We have contacted the Supervisory Presiding Officer and they are working to resolve the issue.
“We have urged the voters to remain calm and wait, the issue will be resolved and they will soon be given the opportunity to cast their votes.”
A resident Abubakar Yau, said they have been at the unit since 8:40am, adding that many others had gone back home following the displacement of BVAS machines in the area.
He called on INEC officials to ensure the retrieval of the machines, saying “so that we can vote. Many of our people have gone back home, without accreditation we may not be able vote without BVAS.”
However, Our Correspondent reports that the election process has been calm and peaceful across Gombe state, across the polling units voters arrived long before the arrival of the electoral officers.
