Akwa Ibom LG Election: Voters stranded at polling units, voting materials yet to arrive

Voters who arrived at various polling units in Akwa Ibom State to vote for their candidate in Saturday’s local government elections have expressed dismay that election materials are yet to arrive by 11:00 am.

The Akwa Ibom State Independent Electoral Commission, AKISIEC, had announced that accreditation and voting would start by 8:00 am and possibly end by 2:30 pm or when the last person on the queue votes.

However, as at 11:05 am, when our correspondent visited some of the polling units in Uyo metropolis and Itu local government area, election materials were yet to arrive and few voters, particularly women, were seen chatting while young boys played football on the road.

At Unit 2 Ward 11, Village Council Hall of Atai Ibiaku, Itu LGA , Pastor Gideon Edidem regretted that even three hours behind schedule, AKISIEC was yet to bring the election materials.

“AkISIEC is not matured like INEC, despite all the preparations and assurances, nothing has happened untill this moment.

“We are here waiting for them, we learnt that they’ve not even left the office,” Edidem said.

A 75 year old, Augusta Edem, who came out to vote at the village hall, decried the late arrival of materials.

At Unit 001 Ward 14, Uyo LGA, no electoral officer or police officer was seen when our correspondent visited. Voters were seen discussing in clusters.

Rita Archibong, the unit coordinator, told journalists that they would wait till materials arrive.