Insight Late arrival of election materials mars crucial election

Election officials and materials were not seen at several polling units as at 11am, according to reports from election agents across the country. 

The 36 states of the federation, including the FCT, were expected to begin accreditation for the 2023 presidential, House of Representatives and senatorial elections at 8.30 a.m, but INEC officals were yet to arrive at several polling units in the country two and a half hours later. 

According to reports by one of our correspondents, the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) staff members were yet to arrive at Obiakpor Local Government Area as at at 12pm. 

INEC officials were not seen at Umuda, Isingwu, Umuahia, Abia State, the polling station of the Director-GeneraL of the World Trade Organization, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, as at 11.23am. 

Okonjo-Iweala posted this on her official Twitter handle, saying that voters had been waiting for INEC officials since 7am at the unit. The official later arrived around 12.40pm. 

At Okija Ward 1, Ihiala Local Government Area, Anambra State, INEC officials arrived at 12.50pm while election started at 1.10pm. 

Also, as at 11.,30am, no INEC official was seen at Ward 1, Umueri, Anambra East Local Government Area of Anambra State. 

At the polling unit 04 in Akwa Ibom State, no official was seen at 10am. Similarly, INEC officials and materials were yet to arrive at several polling units at Bayelsa Central Senatorial District as at 10:01 a.m. 

At Ajiran Primary School 1, Ajiran Primary School 11 in Lagos, officials did not arrive at the station as at 10am. 

At Bakare Estate Main Gate, John Okafor Gate, Chevron Main Gate, Ibrahim Odofin, all in Lagos, the situation was the same as at 9:50 a.m. In CrossRiver Central polling unit 32, Ikon L.G.A. as of 9;36 am, officials were not seen at 9.36am. Also, at polling units 1 and 2, Atissa Ward 4, no INEC officials was seen at 10am.