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#NigeriaElections2023: Thugs snatched BVAS machines in Katsina, Delta, says INEC

February 25, 2023 1:49 pm

Mahmood Yakubu, INEC chairman

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says thugs snatched Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines in Katsina and Delta states.

Mahmood Yakubu, INEC chairman, spoke on Saturday while briefing journalists at the collation centre, Abuja on the ongoing general election.

Yakubu said reports from the process nationwide indicated that there have been some challenges.

He said the challenges include problems of logistics and insecurity.

“Voting is going on nationwide, the BVAS deployed nationwide has been functioning optimally in most parts of the country. We are hearing less complaints about the functionality of the BVAS,” the INEC chairman said.

“Based on the reports we have received from our offices, there have been some challenges in the process.

“One of the challenges is the inability of the commission in some locations to open the polling units at 8:30 am. Some of the reasons for this include the perennial problem of logistics in spite of our best efforts. But generally speaking, we have delivered hundreds of ballot papers and result sheets that we were supposed to deliver.

“Another factor is the perennial insecurity. We couldn’t deploy early enough in Alawa, Niger state because bandits launched an attack in the area. So we tarried for a while on the advice of security agents. But we are happy to say that we were able to deploy to other areas and voting is going on.

“In Oshimili, Delta state, thugs attacked a polling unit and two BVAS were lost in the process. But we were able to replace the stolen BVAS and restore security and voting continued. In Safana LGA of Katsina state, thugs attacked voting locations and snatched six BVAS machines. But we were able to use the spare BVAS machines and reinforce security for voting to continue.

“The security agencies have recovered three BVAS machines but three are still held by the thugs. In these locations, the target of attacks were the BVAS machines. It is no longer the ballot boxes.”