INEC Worried Over Hoodlums Attack And Carting Away Of BVAS Machines

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has expressed concern over targeting of Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines by hoodlums during the ongoing presidential/national assembly polls.

The electoral agency also blamed the late arrival of electoral officials to the various poling units across the country, partly on security issues and logistic problems.

INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmoud Yakubu, addressing a news conference on Saturday in Abuja, said hoodlums are now targeting BVAS, instead of ballot boxes or ballot papers.

According to him, INEC lost several units of BVAS to hoodlums in Delta, Katsina, and Anambra States during attacks on some of the polling units on Saturday morning.

In Delta State, he said two BVAS machines were carted away in the Oshimili Local Government Area, six in Safana Local Government areas in Katsina and three in Anambra States.

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According to them, some of the stolen BVAS were later recovered by security operatives.

The INEC Chairman also explained that voting was delayed in Abia, Imo and Kebbi States due to the security situation.

He said the voting later took place in Abia and Imo state beyond the voting deadline, allowing those accredited before 2:30pm to vote.

Three persons have been injured in the attack by hoodlums on a registration area centre in Gombe State during the ongoing Presidential and Nationl Assembly polls.

Three ad-hoc officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were injured in the attack by the hoodlums.

The hoodlums shooting sporadically carted away their phones, power banks and back packs from the facility where the ad-hoc staff slept overnight.

Spokesman of the state police command, Mahmud Abubakar confirmed the attack, but blamed INEC for not seeking security clearance from the police.