Ondo: Card readers malfunction as INEC experiments with simultaneous accreditation, voting

The simultaneous accreditation and voting innovation adopted by the Independent National Electoral Commission commenced on Saturday as voters gathered at polling units across Ondo State to choose their next governor.
However, malfunctioning card readers marred the process in some areas.
Top on the list of those who had issues with the card readers was the state Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko.
INEC was, however, quick to say that it has enough card readers for the election.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that there was calm in Ondo West Local Government Area of the state as some voters were sighted queuing up to vote.
As at 7:30am, some residents were seen Boloerunduro, Owena, Oboto, Elemosho, Wasinmi and Ondo heading to polling units, while there was heavy presence of security men at various checkpoints.
At Ward 7, Unit 20 in Ondo, voters were already at the polling unit although INEC staff were not yet at their duty post.
Speaking with NAN at Ward 9 Unit 6,Ondo, a resident, Sola Ajakaiye, commended the government and INEC for putting in place adequate security measures to ensure peaceful election.
In Igboroko Ward 2, Polling Unit 2, Owo, the Presiding Officer, Busayo Olawale, said all logistics had been put in place to ensure a hitch-free poll.
Similarly, at Igboroko Ward 2, Polling Unit 8, the Assistant Presiding Officer, Amos Ogunbodede, noted that the unit was only waiting for the starting time to commence the electoral process.
In the same vein, Fumen Nuhu, the Presiding Officer of Igboroko Ward 2, Polling Unit 1, said all arrangements had been made.
NAN also reports that voters were sighted casting their votes at Igboroko Ward 2, Unit 1.
However, at Ijebu Ward 4, Unit 9, the voters were disappointed because the card reader was not functioning as at 8:51am.
Speaking with NAN, the unit’s Presiding Officer, Osidi Safia, said the device would be repaired within five minutes.
NAN reports that there was also a heavy presence of security personnel in all the polling units visited.
In Akure, accreditation and voting also commenced simultaneously at Ward 4, Unit 12 and Obanla Bada’s House Unit 006 Ward 04.
Some security agents as well independent observers were also sighted, while voters were on the queue to ensure a smooth electoral process.
NAN also reports that voting commenced at 8:11am at Unit 9, Ward 2, Sacred Heart Primary school 1 in Akure South Local Government Area.
Speaking with NAN, Bello Ameen, the Presiding Officer, said all the materials were set and working perfectly.
Ameen urged the voters not to panic if the card reader did not recognise any of the fingers as they would still be allowed to vote.
No fewer than 1,280,580 voters with Permanent Voter Cards would decide who the governor would be out of the 28 contestants in Saturday’s governorship election.
Although 1,659,186 voters were registered for the election, 378,606 did not turn up to collect their PVCs.
Among the major contestants are Eyitayo Jegede of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Rotimi Akeredolu of the All Progressives Congress, Dr. Olu Agunloye of the Social Democratic Party and Olusola Oke of the Alliance for Democracy.
Others include the candidate of the Accord Party, Oladare Amuda, Yinka Orokoto of the Action Alliance and the candidate of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria, Chief Adetuwo Ogunjumelo.
Also in the race are the candidates of the Citizens Popular Party, Peter Fasua; Labour Party, Adeuti Stephen; and Peoples Party of Nigeria, Temidola Olagbegi.
Segun Agbaje, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ondo State, said on Saturday that the commission has more than 250 spare smart card readers to replace those malfunctioning.
Agbaje said this on Saturday while speaking with newsmen at Unit 9, Ward 2, Gbogi/Isinkan in Akure South Local Government Area of the state on the sidelines of the accreditation and voting process for the governorship election.
His comments followed complaints of malfunctioning card readers in some polling units in the state.
Agbaje said: “I have called the Head of Department of ICT to get smart cards for areas with smart card challenges and very soon they will get them.
“Card reader is not a major challenge because it can be addressed within 10 to 20 minutes.
“We have over 250 smart card readers for exchange in case of malfunction.
“I believe more people are still coming and the election is going on smoothly across the state.”
Agbaje further said the challenge faced by those whose names were not on the list but have PVCs would be addressed by the ICT Department soon.
Describing the electoral process as very impressive, he said the report emerging from the Election Monitoring System Operating Room at the commission’s Abuja headquarters was positive.