March 18: Asari raises alarm over attempts to disenfranchise Kalabari voters

Brave Dickson

The Leader of the Niger Delta People’s Volunteer Force, Alhaji Dokubo Asari has raised alarm, alleging that some politicians had connived with INEC to disenfranchise Kalabari voters.

Asari said this at his Degema ward 14, polling unit 11 during the Saturday’s governorship and House of Assembly elections in Rivers State.

He said, “some politicians have connived with the Independent National Electoral Commission to disenfranchise our people.

“Our people are enthusiastic about this election because some of the governorship candidates are from this region.

“We all came out today as early as 7am to cast our votes only to hear stories from INEC.

“Either INEC officials will tell you that the passwords for the BVAS machines are not available or sensitive election materials are incomplete.

“As I speak to you, this is 3pm and voting has not commenced in my polling unit and same thing is happening in other polling units across the three Kalabari LGAs.

“But we will not allow them to disenfranchise us. We will remain here until will cast our votes.”

Speaking with our correspondent who monitored the election at Asari’s polling unit, an Action Alliance agent, Harry GodGift said the number of ballot papers INEC brought to the polling unit are far less than the number of registered voters of the polling unit.

He also said result sheets were incomplete, blaming INEC for making voting to be impossible in his polling unit.