FCT Polls: Technical Hitches Delay Voting In Jikwoyi

The FCT Area Council elections in Jikwoyi recorded a relatively low voter turnout as it was marred by technical challenges, including network issues that led to some voters leaving polling units.

However, election officials quickly resolved the issues, allowing the election process to continue smoothly.

At the Jikwoyi Phase 2 (Tokka) polling units 105 and 103, voters initially left after network interruptions were experienced, which hindered the verification process. Despite the setbacks, many returned once the problems were rectified.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) representative at the polling unit, Andy Uwam, acknowledged the challenges but remained optimistic about the overall conduct of the election. “Everything is going well so far. There have been no major disruptions. The only issue was a brief technical problem with the machines, but it was resolved,” he remarked.

The All Progressive Congress (APC) agent, Prince Olajide, expressed satisfaction with the election’s peaceful atmosphere. “It’s one of the few elections I’ve witnessed without violence or arguments. The election started on time, and despite some technical hitches, things are running smoothly,” he said.

Some voters also encountered problems with the PIVA (Permanent Voter Identification Authentication) system, which caused delays and confusion.

People’s Democratic Party (PDP) agent, Nduma Yusuf Nda, explained that some voters’ names were not being captured because the PIVA system initially had network issues. However, once the system was up and running, voters returned to cast their ballots, he added.

Despite the technical difficulties, the party agents confirmed that the election process remained free and fair, with no signs of vote-buying or major disputes.