Ondo Election: Card Reader Rejects Mimiko’s Thumbprint; Jegede Worried 

SAN FRANCISCO, November 26, (THEWILL) – Card reader deployed for Saturday’s governorship election in Ondo state rejected the thumbprint of the state governor, Olusegun Mimiko, when he wanted to vote at his Ward 7, Unit 20 Polling Unit in Ondo West Local Government Area.

The Governor had to fill the incident form before he was finally allowed to cast his ballot at about 12 noon .

Addressing newsmen shortly after voting, he vowed to resist any attempt to manipulate the election in favour of any political party.

“Ondo people will not allow any form of rigging or manipulation through the card reader or any other form,” he said.

The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the election, Eyitayo Jegede has also lamented the malfunctioning of the card readers in some polling units.

Jegede, who waited for over 45 minutes before he could vote, said: “I have had discussions with the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr Olusegun Agbaje; I have informed him that a good number of the card readers are not functioning. I hope it is not a scheme to prevent people from voting.

“I hope that they would allow every registered voter on the queue to vote.

“I have been in the queue for the past 45 minutes. I give glory to God that I have been to participate; I have voted for the people.

“We have told our people that we are going to win this election.”

Meanwhile, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Rotimi Akeredolu has disclosed that he offered prayer to God before casting his vote in the election.

He called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to fix the faulty card readers across polling booths in the state.

Akeredolu tweeted, “I said a little prayer before heading out to vote. All in all, na #GOdWin. I voted today. I am hoping all registered voters will do the same

“The reports of malfunctioning card readers are streaming in and we urge @inecnigeria to do all it can to ensure no one is disenfranchised.”