Fresh controversy trails the ongoing collation of the Kuje Area Council chairmanship election in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), as a representative of the All Progressives Congress (APC) alleges overvoting and manual accreditation in parts of Gudun Karya Ward.
According to Mediaplusng.com, the objection is raised on Sunday during the resumed collation session, where party agents and electoral officials reconvene to finalize results from the ward. The APC representative, Elder Haruna Jatau, challenges the figures presented by the ward collation officer, citing what he describes as electoral breaches in two polling units.
Jatau specifically alleges that overvoting occurs in Zagabutu Village, while in Huni Village, voters are accredited manually instead of through the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), the electronic device introduced to enhance transparency and credibility in Nigeria’s elections. He states that the APC rejects the results from Gudun Karya Ward and calls for a review.
Mediaplusng.com reports that the Ward Collation Officer, Dr. Zubairu Mohammed, firmly denies the allegation, maintaining that BVAS is used for accreditation across Gudun Karya Ward in compliance with electoral guidelines issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Dr. Mohammed, however, acknowledges receiving a report from the polling officer in Huni Village indicating that some individuals allegedly coerce him to rewrite election results in favor of a particular political party. According to the collation officer, the polling officer initially yields under pressure but later corrects the results to reflect what is captured by the BVAS device.
According to Mediaplusng.com, the incident raises concerns among stakeholders present at the collation centre, prompting calls for strict adherence to electoral procedures and protection of polling officials from intimidation or undue influence.
Reacting to the development, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner supervising Kuje Area Council, Mr. Abubakar Sarkinpawa Dambu, expresses dissatisfaction over cancellations and alterations observed on certain result sheets. He emphasizes the commission’s commitment to due process and transparent collation.
The REC advises the APC representative to formally submit his complaints in writing to the INEC office for proper documentation and investigation, assuring party agents that the commission will review all credible petitions in line with the Electoral Act and established guidelines.
Observers at the collation centre describe the exchange as tense but orderly, noting that party agents remain vigilant while INEC officials continue the collation process. Security personnel are present to maintain calm and ensure proceedings are not disrupted.
As collation continues in Kuje Area Council, attention focuses on INEC’s final decision regarding disputed results from Gudun Karya Ward. The outcome is expected to influence the overall chairmanship result and could potentially trigger further legal or administrative review if formal complaints are filed.
The situation underscores the critical role of technology such as BVAS in Nigeria’s electoral process, as well as the importance of transparency, accountability, and adherence to electoral laws in safeguarding democratic credibility at the grassroots level.
