The Independent National Electoral Commission has said 188 polling units experienced delays during Saturday’s governorship election in Ekiti State.
The figure represents 7.69 per cent of the total polling units used for the election.
In a post on, INEC said all 2,445 polling units across the state opened for voting. The commission added that 2,257 polling units, representing 92.31 per cent, opened on schedule before 8:30am.
According to INEC, the remaining 188 polling units had minor delays but began voting before 10:30am.
The commission said voting officially ended in most polling units at 2:30pm. It also described the exercise as peaceful and orderly.
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INEC’s update came after reports of delays in voter accreditation in some parts of the state. The delays were linked to technical issues with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, known as BVAS.
The BVAS is used to verify voters before they are allowed to cast their ballots. It checks voter details through fingerprints and facial recognition. However, in some polling units, the device reportedly struggled to capture the biometric details of some voters, especially elderly people.
The technical problem caused long queues in affected areas, as voters waited for officials to resolve the issue. Some elderly voters were said to have made several attempts before they were finally accredited.
Despite the challenge, INEC said the affected polling units later commenced voting before 10:30am. The commission maintained that the election process remained calm across the state.
The Ekiti governorship election was closely watched because of the role of technology in Nigeria’s electoral process. Since the introduction of BVAS, many voters and election observers have continued to focus on whether the device can improve transparency and reduce electoral fraud.
While BVAS has been praised for helping to strengthen voter accreditation, Saturday’s delays show that technical problems remain a major concern during elections. In areas where the device fails or works slowly, voters may become frustrated, while election officials may come under pressure.
Election delays can also affect turnout, especially among elderly voters, people with disabilities and those who travel long distances to vote. For many voters, a smooth accreditation process is as important as the voting itself.
INEC’s statement suggests that the commission was able to manage the situation without major disruption. However, the reported BVAS glitches may again raise questions about preparation, technical support and the need for faster response teams during elections.
The final outcome of the election will depend not only on the votes cast but also on public confidence in the process. For voters, candidates and political parties, the credibility of the election remains the most important issue.
As collation continues, attention will now turn to INEC’s handling of results and whether the commission can maintain the same calm it reported during voting.
