Confusion over accreditation of Daura Council boss

There was a mild drama yesterday after the card reader failed to recognise the fingers of the chairman of the Daura local council, Malam Sabiu Dantoyi Ibrahim.

Ibrahim was taken aback when the card reader failed to recognise his fingers at the Sarkin Mara A 012 polling unit in Daura after several attempts by the polling officials stationed there.

However, the Daura council chief who is a member of the ruling peoples democratic party (PDP) was later made to fill the incident form before he was duly accredited to exercise his franchise.

A PDP polling agent at a nearby polling unit, Abdulsalam claimed he faced similar experience adding he was later made to fill the incident form before he was accredited to vote at the nearby Baru 2 Sarkin Yara A polling unit. He said in spite the fact that there were similar cases in the polling unit, the exercise was hitch free.

A member of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Alhassan Ado Daura, an All progressive congree (APC) member, said it went smoothly when he was registered at the Kofar Baru ward 003.

“It was so sweet, no stress. Within five minutes, I was home and dry with this wonderful initiative by INEC.” he said.

As at 1.30 pm, eligible voters were still on a long queue waiting for to be accredited by polling officials in the polling units spread across the ancient town of Daura which is home to the APC presidential candidate, Maj-Gen Muhammadu Buhari ( rtd) .

One of the eligible voters on the queue, simply identified as Malam Mustapha expressed the fear that due to the delay caused by the card reader in the accreditation exercise, the 1pm fixed by INEC for the start of casting of ballots may not be feasible.

He said: “You can see us in the sun. It is frustrating but we are not complaining because we want the best in the election process. It takes like 30 minutes to get accredited. So I wonder when we would end today. You can see this is 12 pm.”

With the exception of a few patrol vehicles manned by heavily armed security personnel and an armoured personnel carrier stationed at the precinct of the palace of the Emir of Daura, Alhaji Umar Farouk Umar, residents and voters alike conducted themselves in a peaceful manner.