INEC should explain why polls began late in Abia – Sen Ohuabunwa
By Steve Oko
Senator Mao Ohuabunwa representing Abia North senatorial district has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to offer explanations on why the February 23 presidential and national assembly elections started very late in his Arochukwu polling unit and other parts of Abia State.
Ohuabunwa who spoke with Wawa News Global on phone around 3:00pm said he was able to vote around 2:00pm following the late arrival of INEC officials and electoral materials in the area.
The former Speaker, ECOWAS parliament, said that reports reaching him from other parts of the state also indicated the polls commenced so late in Abia.
He wondered why the elections slated for 8:00am would be commencing by 1:00 pm and 2:00pm in Abia and other Southern States while in the North polls opened as scheduled.
President Muhammadu Buhari and his main challenger Atiku Abubakar both voted as early as 8:00 am according to reports.
Ohuabunwa expressed satisfaction with the turn out of voters in his polling unit which he described as massive, while arguing that they should be allowed enough time to vote to recover the lost time.
He also said that there were reports of card reader malfunctioning in some polling units in the area but added that they were later sorted out.
Ohuabunwa expressed the confidence he would sweep the polls if the absence of manipulations later in the process.
He also said other candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP would emerge victorious “if the process remains free and fair “.
The senator however, noted that so far the polls had been peaceful in Abia State.
Wawa News Global checks indicate the polls were characterised by late arrival of INEC officials and materials, hence its late commencement in most Southern States including Abia.
There was also unprecedented turn out of voters contrary to prediction as voters patiently waited to exercise their civic responsibility in most of the booths visited.
There were also complaints by some voters that they could not locate their polling unit, a sad experience they blamed on INEC which according to them relocated them without their knowledge.
End
Steve Oko, Publisher/C.E.O, WaWa News Global. For more information on advert placement and news coverage, contact us on: 08038725600, or via email stevemanofgod2000@yahoo.com; wawanewsglobal@gmail.com Always read WaWa News Global - Your most dependable online news platform for the latest breaking news in Nigeria. 
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