Wike upset as BVAS fails to recognise him, wife

Nyesom Wike
Nyesom Wike

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers got disappointed in his polling Unit, Ward 9, Unit 7, Obio/Akpo Local Government Area on Saturday as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) failed to accredit him to enable him to cast his vote.

The BVAS failed to recognise the thumbprint or face of his wife, Eberechi Wike as the presiding officer Agatha Abiokun battled in vain to have them accredited.

Abiokun however pleaded with the governor to wait and added that she had sent for an INEC technician to come and rectify the anomaly.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that all other electorates however waited patiently to see what would happen as the three BVAS machines deployed to the polling unit failed.

Reacting, Wike said he was disappointed and added that INEC ought to have put all its tools in order before now.

“We are highly disappointed. INEC told us they were ready for the election and that BVAS are working.

“You can see the crowd here I don’t think that most people will be allowed to vote with slow working of the BVAS.

“I have stayed about 25 minutes here and I was told to go and come back that they will rectify the BVAS.

“We are highly disappointed. If a number of people are disenfranchised, what do you expect? People will lose their temper and anything could happen.

“INEC ought to have been completely ready before telling the people they are ready. There is no violence anywhere in the state,” Wike said.

At the time of filing this report, the governor was still at the polling unit, waiting for INEC to rectify the BVAS to enable him exercise his franchise.