#OsunDecides2026: BVAS Glitch, Single Machine Leave Many Voters Stranded At Ilesa West Polling Unit | Sahara Reporters
SaharaReporters captured the scene as voters struggled to remain on the queue for several hours while waiting to cast their ballots.
A large number of voters were left stranded in a long queue at Ward 8, Polling Unit 5, in Ilesa West Local Government Area of Osun State, following delays attributed to the slow operation of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machine deployed to the polling unit.
SaharaReporters captured the scene as voters struggled to remain on the queue for several hours while waiting to cast their ballots.
The voters complained that the number of people at the polling unit far exceeded the capacity of the available personnel and equipment, with only one BVAS machine reportedly deployed to process voters.
Speaking with SaharaReporters, Agunbiade Tolulope said the situation had subjected voters to prolonged waiting, stress and discomfort, particularly as the queue was barely moving.
According to Tolulope, the number of voters at the polling unit was too large compared with the available personnel and equipment.
“The election I have had over the time that I have been here is that the numbers of voters in this polling unit is too much compared to the gadgets and the resources that are available and the personnel.”
Tolulope said voters had spent between six and seven hours waiting, with little or no movement on the queue.
“We have been here for over 6 or 7 hours now. You notice that the lines are not moving.”
He added that while voters at some other polling units had already completed the voting process, those at the affected polling unit were still waiting.
“It’s totally not moving. Of which, other units, polling units, they are done by now.”
Tolulope called for additional personnel and voting equipment to be deployed to polling units with large numbers of registered voters, particularly where pregnant women and other vulnerable voters were among those waiting.
“There should be more resources, more in-depth officials, and more gadgets to capture us and to relieve people from their pain.”
Describing the experience as stressful, Tolulope said voters had spent hours under the sun despite assurances that the electoral process would be stress-free.
“Actually, I have been here for over 20 hours now, nothing is working here. Stress, they said it is stress-free. We have been here under the sun, the stress is just too much for us.”
According to him, the number of voters waiting to be accredited was significantly higher than the number of officials available to manage the process.
“So, the numbers of the voters here is compared to, way more than the available personnel, like I said. So, they are unable to, you know, coordinate the line.”
He further explained that the queue was poorly coordinated despite efforts by both the electoral officials and security personnel.
“So, the lines are not well coordinated. Though they are trying their best, the officials are trying their best, the lines are not properly coordinated.”
On the performance of the BVAS machine, Tolulope said the device was functioning but operating at a very slow pace, further contributing to the delay.
Asked whether the BVAS was working, he said:“The BVAS is working, but it is slow.”
When asked to clarify how slow the machine was, he replied: “It is slow. Very slow. That is why I said we need more resources.”
Tolulope said the problem could have been significantly reduced if more BVAS machines had been deployed to the polling unit.
“In a polling-unit like this, there should be more than two, you know, units where people can vote. There should be at least two to three BVAS machine working here.”
When asked how many BVAS machines were actually available at the polling unit, he confirmed: “There is only one that is here.”
The prolonged delay has left a large crowd of voters waiting in the queue, raising concerns about the ability of the polling unit to process all eligible voters within the available voting period.