An election observer with the Centre for Democracy and Development, CDD , Mgbeahuike Chibuike, has raised concerns over security roadblocks and confusion about polling units, warning that both affected voter turnout in the Federal Capital Territory Area Council election.
Speaking during a roving observation of polling areas, Chibuike said poorly coordinated security checkpoints caused delays for voters and observers, leading to frustration and uncertainty in parts of the city.
“One of the things we observed was a serious security blockade. It delayed us for more than 30 minutes, and there was a long queue of vehicles,” he said.
He explained that the situation worsened existing challenges faced by voters who were already struggling to locate their polling units.
“That kind of delay and confusion discourages people. Some of them don’t even know where their polling units are, and when you add roadblocks and delays, it makes the situation worse,” he added.
According to him, the observer team noticed many voters moving around in search of their polling units, a situation he attributed to last-minute changes or poor communication.
“We have seen quite a number of people walking around who don’t seem to know where to go. There appear to be last-minute changes, and people are trying to locate their polling units,” he said.
Chibuike noted that some voters only received information about their polling locations shortly before election day, while others were still unsure on the day of voting.
“Election day is not the day people should be spending time trying to find where to vote,” he said.
He said the confusion reflected in low turnout across several polling units visited by the observer team, noting that while some units had over 700 registered voters, only a small number had voted.
“When you compare the number of registered voters with those who have voted, the turnout is clearly low,” he said.
Chibuike added that the team observed generally light voter presence while moving across different parts of the city.
He also said that although there were suspicions of vote-buying in some areas, there was no concrete evidence to confirm the claims, adding that officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission were sighted in at least one location.
He stressed that clear logistics, proper communication and better coordination of security arrangements are essential to improve voter participation and confidence in future elections.
