Voters at Polling Unit 62, Registration Area 02 in Ikpoba Okha have been left stranded after the ballot papers they were supposed to use mysteriously went missing.
According to multiple eyewitnesses, voting has come to a complete standstill, and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials have made no effort to address the situation by sourcing a replacement.
The missing ballot papers have left many residents who had turned out in large numbers frustrated and disenfranchised.
Instead of taking immediate steps to remedy the situation, INEC officials reportedly abandoned the voting process, leaving the polling unit in a state of uncertainty.
One of the frustrated voters, Mrs. Happiness Ikhile, expressed her anger: “We came out early to vote, only to be told that there are no ballot papers.
“How can this happen in such a crucial election? INEC is supposed to be prepared for issues like this, but now they are just standing around doing nothing.”
Another voter, Mr. Isaac Ojeifo, added, “This is clearly sabotage. They know that the people here are ready to vote, but INEC officials are not doing their job. It’s like they want to stop us from voting. This must be investigated.”
Reports from Ikpoba Okha also indicate that the Supervising Polling Officer (SPÖ) for the area has been taken to INEC headquarters for questioning over the missing ballot papers.
It is still unclear whether the disappearance was the result of an administrative error or a more deliberate attempt to disrupt the voting process.
A source close to the election officials revealed, “The SPÖ was taken in for questioning after the situation escalated, as the residents began to demand answers.
INEC needs to be transparent about what really happened here because this kind of chaos undermines the credibility of the election.”
The absence of voting in Polling Unit 62 has further heightened suspicions of irregularities in the election, with some residents accusing INEC of collusion with the All Progressives Congress (APC) to prevent voting in the area believed to be a stronghold of Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Many residents and observers in the area have called for immediate action by INEC to ensure that voting resumes without further delay.
Some are also demanding a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the missing ballot papers.
The situation at Polling Unit 62 has added to the frustrations already being felt by voters across various parts of the state, where reports of malfunctioning BVAS machines, delays in the arrival of materials, and sporadic outbreaks of violence have marred the voting process.
The ongoing Edo governorship election has already been plagued by reports of disruptions in several areas, and this latest incident further adds to the growing concerns about the fairness and credibility of the election.