Voter Allocation Issues Disrupt FCT Elections, Says Yiaga

Yiaga Africa, a non-profit organization, highlighted issues regarding the allocation of voters to new polling units during the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) area council elections held on February 21. Cynthia Mbamalu, the Director of Programs at Yiaga Africa, stated in an interview that voters were not informed ahead of time about their new polling units, which led to frustration and confusion.

Many voters were seen moving around in search of their designated polling units and ultimately returned home without casting their ballots due to the delays. The polling process, originally scheduled to begin at 8:30 AM, was impacted by logistical challenges, with voting materials arriving late and officials struggling to manage the situation.

Additionally, the reassignment of voters to new polling units without prior notification resulted in many receiving messages about their reallocations just an hour before voting commenced, exacerbating the situation.