Former presidential aide and ex-lawmaker Babafemi Ojudu has raised concerns over delays in the accreditation process during Saturday’s voting in Ekiti State, describing the situation as unacceptable and warning that it could undermine public confidence in the electoral process….
Former presidential aide and ex-lawmaker Babafemi Ojudu has raised concerns over delays in the accreditation process during Saturday’s voting in Ekiti State, describing the situation as unacceptable and warning that it could undermine public confidence in the electoral process.
In a post shared via his Facebook page, Ojudu said he encountered technical difficulties shortly after arriving at his polling unit, where he was the first voter to present himself for accreditation.
“INEC, this is unacceptable,” he wrote.
“I am the first voter in my polling unit. Nearly 30 minutes after accreditation began, your equipment has still failed to capture my details.”
He questioned the implication of such delays on the wider voting process, noting that prolonged technical failures at the start of voting could affect hundreds of voters expected to participate in the exercise.
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“If the very first voter requires 30 minutes, how many hours will it take to process hundreds of voters waiting patiently to exercise their democratic right?” he asked.
Ojudu urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to act quickly, warning that failure to address such challenges could disenfranchise voters and erode trust in the electoral process.
“I hope this is an isolated incident and not a statewide malfunction. If not addressed immediately, this could disenfranchise many citizens and cast a shadow over an exercise that should inspire confidence and trust. INEC must act swiftly,” he stated.
However, in a follow-up post, the former senator said the issue was later resolved after he raised the alarm and electoral officials contacted their headquarters for intervention.
“Whenever problems rear their heads, those who have a voice must speak. One of the greatest afflictions of our society is the silence of those who see wrongs being done but choose to look away,” he wrote.
He explained that following his complaint, corrective action was taken promptly by election officials.
“This morning, I encountered difficulties at my polling unit. Rather than grumble in private or walk away in frustration, I immediately drew attention to the problem. The electoral officials contacted their office, and to their credit, corrective measures were taken without delay. The situation has since improved,” he added.
Ojudu said the experience reinforced the importance of civic vigilance and active participation in safeguarding democracy.
“Democracy does not thrive on passive citizenship. It depends on alert, engaged, and vigilant citizens who are prepared to speak up when things go wrong and commend improvements when they occur,” he said.
He urged citizens to remain engaged in the democratic process, stressing that accountability and responsiveness from institutions are strengthened when citizens speak out against observed lapses.
