By Cajetan Mmuta
Candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the November 6, 2021 governorship election in Anambra state, Chief Valentine Ozigbo on Monday attributed the party’s low number of votes during Saturday’s election to the malfunctioned bimodal Accreditation Voting System (BVAS) deployed to all the poling units across the 21 local government areas of the state.
He noted that voters and people of the state during the exercise had come out for simultaneous accreditation and voting for candidates of their choice but the majority of them were disappointed by the technical hitches caused by the new BVAS which delayed the process of early voting for several hours in most polling units.
Chief Ozigbo disclosed this at a press conference held in Awka the Anambra state capital to review some of the issues observed during Saturday’s election and preparations for the supplementary election slated for today (Tuesday) in Ihiala local government area and others where the exercise did not hold on Saturday.
He appealed to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure it deploys at least two BVAS machines and other election materials on time to each polling unit as well as ad-hoc staff for the supplementary exercise.
While expressing optimism that the Ihiala supplementary Poll would help right all wrongs experienced with Saturday’s election, Ozigbo urged voters and residents of the local government area to come out en masse to cast their votes for the PDP.
The PDP candidate said that one of the reasons why he joined the race for Agu Awka Government House a few years ago was he was not impressed with ugly events that characterized themselves to bring about discomfort in the state.
According to him, “The reason why I joined the race a few years ago was because of the discomfort I had about the status quo in the state.”
Ozigbo who took stock of what transpired before, during, and after Saturday’s Governorship election said “It was not over yet for the party, the election. Is still on in Ihiala and others,” assuring that his chances and that of the party are bright in the entire contest.
He however commended the INEC for steps taken towards the conduct of the poll and urged the commission to redouble its efforts by deploying well-trained staff and other personnel for an improved process at Ihiala supplementary exercise.
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Also, he noted that some of the observed issues during Saturday’s election were man made which he listed as lack adequate preparations on the part of INEC as people (voters) came out to cast their votes but we’re disappointed as they waited for materials to arrive at some of the polling units. INEC should put all these into consideration.”
In addition, he lamented that money politics played a dangerous factor during the election as agents of the party at the center went beyond what was normal to sensitize people and influence them to do the wrong thing.
“Anambra people should focus on what is right. The chances are so bright with over a 2.5million votes expected. The PDP has the chances of winning and the battle is still on.”
“We wonder how they (APGA) were able to mop up votes because we are aware there were a number of places manual voting was applied. INEC should deploy one than one BVAS machine to one polling unit to avoid the problem of technical hitches. There’s a need for sufficient Machines and enough INEC (ad-hoc) staff
