Presidential Polls /NASS Elections: Voters Vow Not To Leave Polling Units In Akinyele

…As Ballot Papers Shortfall Sparks Off Protest

By Bode Akinbode, Ibadan

Inadequate ballot papers for the ongoing presidential and National Assembly elections has sparked off protests among many voters at ward 10 in Akinyele Local Government area of Ibadan, Oyo State , vowing not to leave unless they get the ballot papers to vote.

CityMirrorNews gathered that out of 207 accredited registered voters only 100 ballot papers were provided for the presidential and national Assembly elections in the ward leaving the ward with a shortfall of 107 ballot papers.

According to a voter, Awe, “We have been here since morning but the problem now is that the number of ballot papers the INEC officials brought for presidential election was less than the number of registered voters. Ballot papers for the Senate and House of Representatives were adequate. Instead of 207 registered voters, only 100 ballot papers were brought for the presidential election. People who were given the two other ballots without the presidential one are angry. Something should be done”, he said.

Asked to confirm the development, the Presiding Officer for the ward, Josephine Ifedigbe (an NYSC member), told newsmen on phone that: “It is true that instead of 207 accredited voters and 207 ballot papers given us for the Senate and the House of Representatives poll, only 100 ballot papers were given us for the presidential poll. We complained, but they told us that was the number available. The shortfall of 107 is now causing a great problem for us.