INEC reconducts elections in Dogara’s constituency | Nairalaw

The presidential and National Assembly elections at a polling
unit in Kopti, Tafawa Balewa/ Bogoro federal constituency, has been
rescheduled for Sunday (today) due to the failure of the smart card
reader.

The constituency is currently represented by the Speaker of the
House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, who is seeking reelection
on the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

According to INEC officials at the constituency collation centre
in Zwall, the election in the village was rescheduled after the
card readers at the unit failed to work after 2 p.m. on
Saturday.

Our reporter observed security officers and INEC staff heading
to the polling unit in Lere district at around 10:45 am to
reconduct the elections.

Meanwhile, results from different wards in the three local
government areas that make up the constituency are trickling in at
snail pace. As at 12 noon on Sunday, electoral officials at the
constituency collation centre said they were still expecting
results from far-flung wards and the results from nearby Dass local
government where there have been pockets of protests.

When our reporter arrived at Dass, the town was pensive. Some
youth were seen in groups along the road leading to the INEC
office. We also observed that the roads were littered with branches
and leaves; an indication that there was a protest before we
arrived.

Some of the youth we spoke with said trouble started after an
aide to Mr Dogara tried to gain access into the INEC office. He was
promptly prevented from doing so because the youth alleged that he
was not from the town.

Journalists who tried to reach the INEC office were turned back
by soldiers who had set up a roadblock just before the INEC office.
One of the soldiers told the journalists that they had been
instructed not to allow anyone into the INEC office.