Some electorate in Abaji Area Council elections have expressed disappointment after the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) failed to validate them to exercise their franchise in Saturday’s area council elections.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the incident occurred on the BVAS with delimitation number: 37-01-05-011 deployed to Naharati Sabo Primary School in Abaji which hosted five polling units.
The electorate, who spoke with NAN, said that they had been using the same permanent voter card in past elections and had never been rejected by BVAS.
Usman Nuhu, a 51-year-old voter, said that he was the fourth person to arrive at the polling but was unable to vote.
“I wanted to vote but the machine kept rejecting me. I left and came back on three occasions and it still rejected me,” he said.
Haruna Bala, a 26-year old, who was rejected by BVAS, said “I am angry the machine rejected me.
“Maybe it’s because I have now grown beards because when I registered, I didn’t have beards; anything they can do, let them do it so I can vote,” he said.
Also, Adamu Amina said that she had been using her voter card in previous elections without any challenge.
She argued that her details and picture were clear enough for the machine to recognise her but it failed to do so.
Another voter, Mohammed Usman, said he had been using his card in previous elections, querying why he was not recognised now.
Upon inquiry, the Assistant Presiding Officer, Muhammed Awal, said that many factors could be responsible for the rejection.
Awal said that some of the intending voters registered when they were much younger, adding that looking older now could lead to rejection.
He, however, said that all the affected voters had been captured and that a proper report and complaint would be lodged for an update or a new card entirely.
