Voting in the ongoing #AnambraDecides2025 governorship election has been disrupted in parts of Onitsha South Local Government Area following technical failures involving the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), leaving frustrated voters stranded for hours.
At Polling Unit 001, Fegge Ward 5, located at St. John Primary School, officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and ad-hoc staff said they arrived on schedule and completed setup around 8:00 a.m., but accreditation and voting could not begin due to persistent BVAS malfunction.
“We got here around 8 a.m. and set up, but we have been unable to do anything for almost two hours,” said Samuel Obiora, the Presiding Officer, in an interview with TheCable. “The RAC tech has been here to check the BVAS, and he promised to bring another one.”
As of 10:01 a.m., voting had still not commenced at the unit, prompting complaints from residents who criticised INEC for what they described as poor technical preparation despite repeated assurances of readiness.
BVAS used for accrediting voters and transmitting results has been central to INEC’s pledge to deliver credible elections. However, the recurring malfunctions echo similar glitches recorded during the 2023 general elections, which drew widespread criticism from voters and election observers.
Meanwhile, earlier reports indicate that voting commenced smoothly in many parts of the state, including Aguata, Awka South, Orumba North, Nnewi North, and Nnewi South LGAs, though a few areas experienced minor logistical delays. INEC confirmed that voting was underway at PU014, Achina 02, Aguata LGA, in a post on X, noting: “Voting ongoing @ PU 014, RA Achina 02, Aguata LGA, Anambra South Senatorial District. #AnambraDecides2025.”
Observers from the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID Africa) and The ICIR also reported early arrival of polling officials and materials across several locations, though some units recorded late deployment of security personnel and low early turnout.
At Demonstration Primary School, Agu Oka Ward 01 (Awka South LGA), and Akwuegbo Central School (Nnewi North), officials were on ground as early as 8 a.m., but administrative delays pushed back the start of voting in some units.
Despite these early successes, the growing BVAS-related setbacks in Onitsha and other affected areas have heightened concerns that INEC’s technology may again undermine public confidence in the credibility and transparency of the electoral process.
