WTO Director-General Okonjo-Iweala Returns to Nigeria, Votes in Crucial Election
- Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, has said she was waiting to cast her vote
- Reports say the WTO chief tweeted that INEC officials were not present at her polling unit after arriving for over an hour
- Nigeria has employed more robust technology in the 2023 elections than previous ones in the country
Amid reported glitches and delays of voting materials at various polling centres across Nigeria, the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, returned home to vote.
Bloomberg reported that the WTO DG tweeted that she was waiting to vote for over an hour as election officials were not present at her location.
Source: Getty Images
Legit.ng also sighted Okonjo-Iweala's comment on her verified Twitter page.
Her post read:
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"Waiting to vote at my polling station Umuda Isingwu village Umuahia Abia state. Waiting for an hour. People have been waiting since 7 am."
New electronic voting system hiccups
The election on Saturday, February 25, 2023, is the first time the country has used technology to improve transparency and curb rigging that has marred previous elections.
The Bimodal Accreditation System (BVAS) ascertains voters via their fingerprints and facial recognition and is expected to allow only authentically registered voters to cast their ballots.
This may also mean election results would be declared earlier than before.
However, the WTO boss was later able to cast her vote as she expressed delight at the impressive turnout of voters.
She said on Twitter:
"The INEC officers finally arrived. My husband and I have just voted. The turnout is unbelievable, the largest I have ever seen in all the years I have voted in the village. Young and very old all are here."
Naira scarcity may influence vote-buying
Meanwhile, analysts have said that vote-buying, which has plagued various elections in Nigeria, would worsen due to the current naira scarcity.
Despite the scarcity of the naira, inflation has grown in the country to 21.87 per cent.
The current inflation is due to a shortage of banknotes as consumer demand slowed because of reduced purchasing power.
Nigeria At 62: Meet Okonjo-Iweala, other smart Nigerians who Are Making the country proud on global stage
Recall that Legit.ng reported that Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is the first woman and African to lead the World Trade Organization (WTO) as Director-General.
Ngozi was born in Ogwashi-Ukwu, Delta State, Nigeria, to her professor father, Chukwuka Okonjo, who doubled as the Obi (king) of the Obahai Royal Family of Ogwashi-Ukwu. Following her secondary school education, Ngozi proceeded to the United States in 1973 to study at Harvard University. She graduated with an AB in Economics in 1976.
Source: Legit.ng
