BENIN: Edo state governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo has raised concerns over the slow pace of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System BVAS, saying it is delaying the voting process.
The governor made the call shortly after voting in the ongoing bye-election in Edo Central senatorial district which witnessed high Voter turnout as early 8am.
Okpebholo arrived his polling unit, Ward 2, Unit 1, Udomi Primary School in Esan Central Local Government Area, at about 9:45am. He completed accreditation and cast his vote seven minutes later, at 9:52am
Addressing reporters afterwards, Okpebholo said the process was generally calm but faulted the delays caused by the BVAS machines deployed by INEC.
“I just voted. The process is too slow because of the BVAS. It takes a long time to get accredited, and INEC should work on this. Aside from that, the reports I am getting from other areas are encouraging,” the governor stated.
Also voting at the same polling unit, the Coordinator in the Office of the First Lady, Mrs Edesili Okpebholo praised the electoral umpire for conducting a peaceful exercise.
She encouraged residents to exercise their civic rights and remain vigilant until the end of the process.
“This is my hometown, Udomi. The turnout is impressive and the voting has been orderly. INEC is doing well, and I urge everyone not only to vote but also to stay behind and defend their mandate. This is democracy in practice,” she said.
High Voter turnout
Earlier reports from across Irrua and Uromi confirmed that accreditation began around 8am with early voter turnout. At Eguare Primary School in Irrua, Mr. Frank Obehi, one of the first voters, cast his ballot at 8:37 a.m. and described the exercise as peaceful.
The by-election was necessitated by the vacant Edo Central Senatorial seat following Governor Okpebholo’s assumption of office as governor.
