By Peter Duru, Makurdi

Saturday’s Benue state Local Government election was marred by late distribution of electoral material and voter aparty.

Most known Polling Units visited between 9am and 1:30pm had no Benue State Independent Electoral Commission, BSIEC, official on ground. And neither were electoral materials provided at the said Polling Units.

Voters and BSIEC officials were however seen at Ward Collation Centres at the LGEA Primary School Wurukum, Gilley Gyado College North Bank, Agan Toll Gate and LGEA Primary School Daudu, Guma Local Government Area, LGA which were Ward Headquaters.

At the NULGE Polling Unit, the Presiding Officer, Mr. Enokela Ako told reporters at about 1:06pm that he was still expecting the materials assuring that it would be supplied to enable voters exercise their franchise.

Polling Units in Yina Junction, Ankpa Quarters, NEPA office, North Bank, High Level among others had no signs of ongoing elections.

A voter at the NULGE Polling Unit, James Aondofa expressed sadness that he had been at the Polling Unit at 8am but waited endlessly for BSIEC officials to bring the electoral materials to enable him cast his votes “but as we speak, this is about 1:30pm there is no sign of the officials.

“I feel very sad that I have been disenfranchised because from all indications we will not be able to cast our votes.”

Another voter, Alfred Ameh who felt disappointed said “we were told that election is holding today but I came here since morning and no material has come here. This is over 1pm and nothing is happening. People are not happy because we are not allowed to vote. This is sad.”

At the Gilley Gyado College North Bank, a voter, John Angyo who was visibly angry said they were forced to come to the Polling Unit to vote instead of their known Polling Units.

He said “this is the first time we are seeing this kind of thing. How can they ask voters to come to this one point to vote instead of our Polling Units, this is not right. Go round you will not see voting at any Polling Unit, they asked people to gather here to vote, why is that?

Reacting however, the Chairman of BSIEC, Mr. Richard Tombowua claimed that materials were distributed and that the exercise was going on smoothly.

He said, “people are voting at the Polling Units contrary to claims that the Polling Units have been centralised.”

The Caretaker State Chairman of the All Progress Congress, APC, Mr. Benjamin Omale said he had visited seven Polling Units “and elections were going on when I visited.”

A representative of the Forum of State Independent Electoral Commissions of Nigeria, from Bayelsa state, Dr. Remember Ogbe who expressed satisfaction with what he saw on ground commended the BSIEC for the seamless process.

Reacting, the State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Ezekiel Adaji expressed concern and disappointment over the entire process.

He said, “This is a charade, we had expected that as a Priest when the Governor gave his words to conduct a free, fair and credible election he meant every word of it.”

“I am in my village as we speak, we have not seen any electoral materials and.officails of BSIEC anywhere in our communities. It is  unfortunate that this is happening because it is a mockery of democracy. The Governor failed to keep his promise.”