The delay in the Governor's ability to cast his vote was attributed to a technical issue with the card reader machine assigned to his polling unit. The card reader was unable to authenticate his voter's card, which prevented him from participating in the initial stages of the voting exercise.
Despite the setback, Governor Wike remained patient and waited for the electoral officials to rectify the situation. He encouraged other voters who encountered similar issues to remain calm and await assistance from the electoral officials.
After the technical issue was resolved, Governor Wike finally cast his vote at about 12:45 pm. He expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the election and commended the efforts of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in ensuring that the process was free and fair.
The incident underscores the importance of adequate preparations and contingency plans in the conduct of elections. Technical issues with card readers and other equipment can cause delays and disruptions that can potentially disenfranchise voters and undermine the integrity of the electoral process.