From Scholastica Onyeka, Makurdi
The Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), Resident Electoral Commissioner, (REC), in Benue state, Professor Samuel Egwu, has disclosed that there is a printing error which has stalled voting in State Assembly election in Kwande Local Government Area of the state.
The Rec, while fielding questions from newsmen during an inspection of polling units in Gbajimba, Guma Local Government Area, on Saturday, said what should have been written on one constituency was mistakenly written on the other.
“We do have a smooth process but we have a problem with Kwande LG and I have just been talking to political leaders in the state.
“The problem in Kwande is that there is printing error of the ballot papers. There are two state constituencies and what should have been put on one constituency was mistakenly put on the other.
“This is a printing error from Abuja and because of level of credibility we have built, we could not open that ballot papers till this morning,” Prof. Egwu said.
He said, “I have appealed to stakeholders that we can have an INEC administration of using our strong pen to strike out the one constituency and put the correct one and use our stamp and signature that will not affect the integrity of the process.
“I have explained to political leaders across the party lines but it doesn’t appear to be convinced and therefore they do not think that the process should continue.
“My position is that if on their own for that reason they are unwilling to vote, I don’t have any means of compelling then to vote and we will take the situation as it is and then prepare for the necessary arrangements for them to vote in accordance with the provision of the law.”
Professor Egwu, however expressed joy that election started very early saying “this is the result of the work we have done in addressing the logistics of this election by getting the road transport union to deliver.
“So the poll started early and we are almost mid day and I assure that it will end very well to sustain the peace we have been having since morning.”
He said all the party agents across the party spectrum have also expressed satisfaction with the process adding “We are very hopeful that vote will close early, counting will commence peacefully and we can move to the next stage of collation and once we are done with that timely enough, we move to the next level which is LG collation and we can say before it is too late we can come to the end of the election.”