The election commission of Nigeria has apologized for the delays encountered by voters in several parts of the country.
After widespread allegations of late delivery of voting materials and election officers in various states, Mahmood Yakubu informed the press at the central collation center in the capital, Abuja.
The head of the Independent National Electoral Commission (Inec) stated that certain delays were caused by security agency advice for the protection of workers and equipment.
He claimed that armed men invaded some polling stations in the southern state of Delta, stealing at least two voter card verification machines.
Mr Yakubu stated that the stolen items were replaced and security was increased to allow voting to take place.
Suspected criminal groups stormed a voting station in the northern state of Katsina, stealing at least six voter card checking devices, known as Bvas.
According to the Inec head, three of them had been recovered and the rest had been replaced
Mr Yakubu stated that rebels opened fire on electoral officers from a mountain top in the Gwoza area in the north-eastern state of Borno, where an Islamic insurgency has been raging for more than a decade.
According to him, some electoral officers were injured in the incident.
He added that the election commission would continue to assess the situation and provide regular updates.
