Accreditation of voters by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the Presidential and National Assembly elections in the country has begun.
However, in Uyo, ward 6, Akwa Ibom State North-East Senatorial District, the process was yet to begin as at 9:33 a.m.
When Straightnews team visited Unit 4, ward 6 in Uyo, a horde of voters were seen waiting, but neither INEC staff nor materials were in sight.
Speaking to Straightnews on condition of anonymity, a voter said she and other persons arrived the polling unit as early as 6a.m with the hope to get accredited by 8a.m as stipulated by INEC.
In ward 6 collation centre at St. Michaels Primary school, Uyo, Femi Adekunle, an ad hoc staff of INEC who spoke with Straightnews, confirmed that all the materials had arrived the the centre, but were yet to be distributed to the 15 units in the ward.
Also speaking, Mr. Samuel Efanga, a former commissioner for science and technology in the state, also confirmed that the materials were at the centre.
Efanga, who is of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, expressed confidence that his party will come out victorious at the poll.
The ward 6 All Progressive Congress, APC, chapter chairman, Mr. Monday Utuk, said he was satisfied with the process even though accreditation had not started on time.
Utuk, who said that the election materials were properly secured by operatives of the security agencies, dismissed the possibility of any electoral malpractice.
As at the time of filing this report, INEC officials were seen sorting materials to be sent to units.
Earlier on Friday, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Mr. Mike Igini, had assured that all materials had been distributed to the 31 local government areas in the state.
Igini announced that accreditation of voters would begin by 8 a.m and close by 2 p.m and appealed to voters to go out and perform their civic duties by electing the president and national assemblymen they want.
In Akwa Ibom State, there are 337 electoral wards, 2,935 polling units, 10 federal constituencies and 3 senatorial districts.
Please, keep refreshing your browser for subsequent reports on the election in Akwa Ibom State.
