Voters at a polling unit in Abuja encountered significant obstacles during the Federal Capital Territory election as names went missing from the voter register and coordination faltered throughout the process. The incident highlighted persistent challenges facing Nigeria’s electoral system.
Furthermore, many registered voters arrived at the polling station only to discover their names had been omitted from the official list. This discovery triggered immediate concern among the electorate, who had prepared to participate in the democratic process.
One frustrated voter described the situation. “I came here early this morning to cast my vote, but they told me my name is not on the register,” the voter stated. “I registered properly and collected my PVC, so I do not understand why my name is missing.”
Another voter shared similar sentiments. “This is very disappointing,” the voter said. “I have been waiting for this election, and now I cannot vote because of an error I did not cause.”
In addition to the missing names, voters reported poor coordination among electoral officials. The process moved slowly, and some polling staff appeared unsure about proper procedures. Consequently, long queues formed, and tension mounted at the polling unit.
Moreover, some voters waited for hours without receiving clear explanations about the delays. The confusion created an atmosphere of uncertainty throughout the voting exercise.
The incidents raised questions about the preparedness of the Independent National Electoral Commission. Several voters worried that such problems could undermine confidence in the electoral process.
One voter voiced these concerns directly. “How can we trust the system when basic things like voter registers are not accurate?” the voter asked. “This kind of problem discourages people from participating in future elections.”
Electoral officials at the scene attempted to address the issues. They checked multiple times for the missing names and consulted with superior officers. However, many voters remained unsatisfied with the responses they received.
Furthermore, some officials acknowledged that technical glitches had affected the voter register. They promised to escalate the complaints to higher authorities, though immediate solutions proved elusive.
