BVAS Glitches, Vote Buying Allegations Disrupt Anambra Governorship Election

BVAS glitches and vote buying allegations have disrupted Anambra Governorship Election.

Reports of technical glitches with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) have surfaced from several polling units across Onitsha and Idemili Local Government Areas of Anambra State, causing significant delays in Saturday’s governorship election.

At PU001, Fegge Ward 5, St. John Primary School in Onitsha LGA, voting had yet to begin as of 10 a.m. due to BVAS malfunction. Ad hoc staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) expressed frustration over their inability to commence accreditation. A technical officer later arrived to examine the device and promised a replacement.

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Similar disruptions were reported at PU008, Ward 07, Nnobi, Idemili South LGA, where the BVAS failed to read several voter cards. The presiding officer confirmed that a technician had been contacted to rectify the problem.

In Nnewi North’s PU012, Uruagu Ward 1, BVAS malfunctioned during fingerprint and facial verification, preventing many, especially elderly voters from being accredited.

Beyond technical challenges, allegations of vote buying have also emerged in multiple polling units. At PU003, Ward 8, Nnobi (Idemili South LGA), a party agent was reportedly seen taking down the names of voters after they cast their ballots. A similar pattern was observed at PU10, Ward 3, Port Harcourt Road, Fegge (Onitsha LGA), where voters were allegedly issued slips to claim payments from agents nearby.

In Lilu (Ward 18, PU 01 and 07), APGA agents were spotted recording voters’ names after voting. Likewise, in Umuleri II, Ama Mgbede (PU13, Anambra East LGA), observers from the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) reported that APC agents were writing down voter names in exchange for cash promises and giving instructions on whom to vote for.

The trend continued in Orumba South’s Orie Eziagu Ward (PU001–PU003), where both APC and APGA agents were allegedly engaged in similar vote-buying tactics.

Despite these incidents, INEC Chairperson Prof. Joash Amupitan has reiterated the Commission’s readiness to ensure a peaceful, credible, and transparent election, assuring that reported infractions would be addressed promptly.