After years of murder and mounting misery under President Muhammadu Buhari, large crowds of voters hoped for a snap election on Saturday.
According to Reuters reporters, some polling stations closed at 2:30 p.m. As of 13:30 GMT, some polling stations have opened, while others have not.
However, INEC officials claimed technical issues with the new anti-fraud biometric voter accreditation system, the late arrival of transport trucks. In addition to the absence of voting records as the causes of the delays.
President Buhari, a retired army general, is resigning after serving the maximum eight years allowed by the constitution. Although he has not fulfilled his vow to restore peace and security in Nigerian.
The competition to succeed him is fierce. The two parties, which have supported each other since the 1999 military coup, confront a minority party candidate that is popular with young people.
INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu stated during a televised press conference that six biometric devices had been stolen in northern Katsina state and two in southern Delta state.
Also acknowledging the delays, he stated that voters may still cast ballots.
In his words, “There will be elections, and no one will be denied their rights.”
Before Election Day, INEC announced that everyone who lines up in a timely manner may vote even after the official polling locations had closed.
Due to security concerns, INEC suspended voting at over 200 polling stations across Nigeria and transferred voters to other ones.
Prior to the polls, the National Police restricted non-essential vehicles and waterways from midnight to 6 p.m. on election day. Additionally, the National Immigration Service ordered the closure of Nigerian land borders from Saturday midnight to Sunday midnight.
