Elections in certain polling units within Jos North Local Government took a tumultuous turn as voters expressed frustration and anger over the apparent scarcity of ballot papers, leading to protests and accusations of deliberate election compromise by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
One of the hotspots was the Salama Junction Polling Unit in Kabong Ward, where voters were shocked to discover only 100 ballot papers for the House of Representatives and 1000 for the Senate.
The shortage prompted voters to halt the process, claiming that INEC’s inadequate supply of ballots was a calculated move to undermine the integrity of the election.
Similarly, at Polling Unit 015 inside GSS Chwelnyap, there were reports of no Senate ballot papers as of 1:30 pm, causing voters to withdraw from the queue in protest. Allegations of deliberate disenfranchisement were widespread among the aggrieved voters, who insisted that the election could not proceed until adequate ballot papers were provided.
The situation escalated at Polling Unit 052 in Rock Haven, where voters held election officials hostage, demanding an explanation for the severe shortage. With 1,276 registered voters, the polling unit received only 100 ballot papers, leading voters to accuse INEC of intentional negligence in addressing the actual number of voters in the unit.
Tudun Wada/Kabong ward faced a similar challenge, as INEC officials presented only 100 ballot papers for the House of Representatives election in a unit with 1,720 registered voters. Voters, refusing to commence voting under such circumstances, insisted that the election would not proceed until the ballot papers were complete.
As of the latest report, INEC has not successfully addressed the voters’ concerns, and election officials, primarily composed of corps members, remain held hostage in certain locations. Efforts to reach INEC National Commissioner Mohammed Haruna, who was drafted to Jos for the rerun, have proven futile, as his contact remains unreachable. The unfolding events highlight the urgency for INEC to rectify the ballot paper shortage and restore confidence in the electoral process in Jos North Local Government.
