#AnambraDecides2025: INEC Presiding Officer Collapses
There was panic at Polling Unit 005, Enugwu-Ukwu, in Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State on Saturday after a presiding officer of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) reportedly collapsed during the ongoing governorship election.
The victim, identified as Miss Blessing Egoigwe, was said to have fainted amid tension and heavy complaints from angry voters after the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) malfunctioned repeatedly.
Witnesses told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the incident happened around midday when a crowd of frustrated voters surrounded the officials, demanding answers over their inability to vote.
“She suddenly slumped while trying to calm the situation. People rushed to help her before she was taken to a nearby hospital,” a witness said.
More than 470 registered voters at the polling unit were reportedly denied the right to vote due to the faulty BVAS machines, which failed to recognize many voters’ cards — especially those belonging to newly registered voters.
An 18-year-old first-time voter, Miss Blessing Okoye, lamented that she was unable to cast her ballot after several failed attempts to get accredited.
“My hope to vote for a candidate of my choice was dashed by INEC today,” she said. “The BVAS couldn’t capture my fingerprint. I feel really demoralised.”
Another voter, Mrs. Ifeoma Iloeze, 55, said she had been at the polling unit since morning but could not vote even as late as 6:29pm.
“The BVAS refused to capture my face. It’s painful. INEC should find an alternative method so that we don’t keep suffering this kind of disappointment,” she said.
INEC technicians were later called to the scene, but witnesses said the intervention brought “little or no improvement.”
