Protest in Osogbo Over Ballot Paper Shortage, Missing Voter Names
Voters and party agents staged a protest at polling unit 3, ward 8 in Ota-Efun, Olorunda Local Government Area of Osogbo, against officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over a shortage of ballot papers and missing names on the voter register. Tribune Online’s correspondent at the polling unit reported that voting had yet to commence as of 12:25 pm on Saturday, August 15, as the protest disrupted the process. Protesters raised concerns over missing names on the INEC Register displayed on the wall for accreditation and alleged that the number of ballot papers brought to the unit was insufficient. According to reports gathered by Tribune Online, INEC officials brought 1,178 ballot papers to the polling unit, but the unit has 2,354 registered voters, meaning only half of the registered voters at the unit would be able to cast their ballots if the issue is not resolved.
The Ota-Efun protest is not an isolated incident. Party agents at a polling centre in Ejigbo Local Government Area also demanded a recount of ballot papers, alleging that the number supplied was less than the 594 that officials claimed had been delivered. In a video shared by Channels Television, one of the agents was heard questioning the officials, saying that if they count it again, he is sure it won’t be up to 100, and they claimed they brought 594 for them and now is not up to 594. An INEC official reportedly explained that the discrepancy was a mistake made during counting, but the agents insisted on a recount, declaring that they would not vote if the number did not tally.
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The protests add to a series of challenges that have hampered the election process across Osun State. Deputy Governor Prince Kola Adewusi raised concerns about the malfunctioning of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) in Ile-Ife, reporting that the slow performance of the devices was delaying accreditation and causing frustration among voters. In another incident, accreditation at Ward 5, Unit 12 in Ile-Ife was delayed because the venue was under lock and key, with the individuals in possession of the key yet to open the facility. INEC had earlier assured voters that it had deployed 5,130 BVAS machines for 3,763 polling units, with 1,328 backup devices to address potential technical issues. The commission had also printed replacement ballot papers before the election to accommodate a court order adding the Social Democratic Party (SDP) to the ballot.
These incidents come against the backdrop of pre-election concerns over the credibility of the electoral process, with campaign councils alleging technical and logistical shortcomings in previous off-cycle elections. The incidents in Osun mirror problems recorded in Ekiti and the FCT Area Council elections, where voters protested over pre-thumbprinted ballot papers and missing election materials. There was no immediate public statement from INEC regarding the protests in Ota-Efun, the ballot paper shortages, or the missing names on the register at the time of this report.