Yakubu disclosed this while briefing the media on Saturday evening after voting exercises were concluded.
The INEC chair said the polling points that witnessed violence had been noted, adding that other areas where elections took place would receive attention.
“In Lagos, we have been closely following the situation in Okota, Mafoluku, Oshodi and Elegushi.
“We have been able to underline the situation in a number of places, including Ikate, where voting is ongoing.
“So, we’ll keep our eyes on the processes in the other areas of the nation,” Yakubu said.
It was reported that some polling units experienced skirmishes resulting from political thugs invading the places to either chase voters away or snatch ballot boxes and BVAS.
He said four of the machines were snatched in Katsina, noting that security agents eventually recovered three from the thugs.
He equally disclosed some disturbing situation in Imo State and Abia States, noting that deployment of men and material commenced late.
He maintained that in line with relevant practices of INEC, any voter who had queued at the units earlier than 2.30 pm would be given opportunity to vote, no matter how long it took.
In Imo where he said the general security situation was not encouraging, the INEC chairman explained that the commission was aware of the situation in Oguta, Orsu, Orlu, and Okigwe, adding that the military was working on assisting INEC to gain access into the LGAs.
He said: “There are also unfolding situations in Abia and Imo states.
“In Abia deployment is taking place late to the poling units, the commission is aware.
“So, no matter how late the deployment is to, provided that the voter is on queue before 2.30 pm you will be accreditation to vote.
“We are also aware of the situation in Imo. Generally speaking and specifically with respect to four LGAs we are dealing with Oguta, Orsu, and Orlu. We have issues in all 11 wards.
“In Orlu, it is six out of 11 wards. In Okigwe, it is five out of 11. In the case of Oguta, it is more widespread.”
Generally, he said, reports coming from across the country suggested that the election was peaceful, and attributed the late arrival of material to the perennial problem of logistics
He also noted that insecurity contributed to the late arrival of materials in some locations such as in Niger State.
It is noteworthy that the police deployed 310,973 personnel across the over 176,000 polling units in the country for the elections.
INEC officials in Festac Town and Ago Palace Way areas of Lagos refused to transmit the results to the commission’s server on Saturday.
At most of the polling units in these areas, the electoral officers were seen refusing to transmit the results after they had been announced.
At the polling units on 111 Road and 41 Road in Festac Town, the electoral officers refused, despite insistence by party agents, saying they were not asked to transmit the results.
It was the same situation in most parts of the town, but party officers and voters insisted that the results must be transmitted.
The people expressed fear that the excuse being given by the INEC personnel that they would do that when they get to the local government headquarters was a ploy to rig the results already declared.
Also, INEC has moved voting in 141 polling units to Sunday.
This was made known by the INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, on Saturday at the second leg of the situation report on the 2023 election.
Yakubu noted that more Bimodal Voter Authentication Systems were carted away by thugs.
He noted that elections in some local government areas in Edo have been postponed to March 11.
Meanwhile, in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State on Saturday evening, voters flocked the secretariat of INEC over the purported cancelling of elections across Ward 4 of the LGA at 4-pm.
The protesters comprising constituents from wards such as Ekurede-Itsekiri, Ugbori, Ugbuwanguwe and Ajamimogha communities in Warri South LGA called for an official statement from the electoral officer, Kingsley Ogboe, over the alleged cancellation by INEC.
One of the youths, Timeyin, who spoke with journalists, said the purported cancellation as told by INEC officials was over the late arrival of materials to the ward.
He said: “The INEC officials arrived at the units after 2.pm. They said the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System could not work after 2.30 pm, so they will conduct the election tomorrow (Sunday).”
Asked why they were at the INEC secretariat, he said they wanted an official statement from the electoral officer that the elections were cancelled and to be held on Sunday.
Efforts to get comments from Ogboe after about an hour’s wait at the secretariat were futile.
Independent
