Elderly Osun Voter, 55, Voices Frustration After Facial Verification Glitch Prevents Her from Casting Ballot

A 55-year-old voter, Sharafa Lasisi, has made a desperate plea to the Independent National Electoral Commission to step in and resolve the issue with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, which is failing to recognize his face, as he fears being denied his right to vote.

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Lasisi's appeal came on Saturday, as he attempted to cast his ballot at Polling Unit 006, Ward 04, in the Isale/Oke-Afo area of Ikirun, Ifelodun Local Government Area of Osun State, but was hindered by the malfunctioning BVAS machine.

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Despite multiple attempts, the BVAS machine was unable to verify Lasisi's face, with election officials citing network problems and advising him to try again later, a suggestion he followed but to no avail.

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Upon returning to the polling unit, Lasisi was dismayed to find that the issue persisted, prompting him to speak out and seek assistance from the electoral authorities.

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Lasisi clearly stated his identity and predicament, saying, "My name is Sharafa Lasisi, I am from Alamisi Unit 6, and I am 55 years old, but despite visiting the verification point, the network issues prevented my face from being verified."

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He recounted the frustrating experience, saying, "They told me to go home and eat, and then return, but even after doing so, the verification still didn't work, which is why I'm seeking help to cast my vote."

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The incident occurred amidst a steady stream of voters turning out to cast their ballots across various polling units in the ongoing Osun State governorship election.

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Lasisi is urging the electoral authorities to intervene in his case, ensuring that he is able to exercise his right to vote, and is not disenfranchised due to the technical issue with the BVAS machine.