…but process nearly marred by late arrival of materials
There was a record massive voter turnout for Saturday’s presidential and National Assembly elections in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
From Madala in Niger State to Bwari in Bwari Area Council and highbrow areas of Maitama and Asokoro, the FCT was peaceful and election activities were in high motion.
Security operatives from across all the security agencies were seen patrolling the entire city and their presence could be felt in all the polling centres.
Visits by The Nigerian Observer to many polling units showed some improvement in arrival of election materials. Staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were also seen busy attending to voters who turned out for voting earlier in the day.
To enforce security around Abuja, FCT police commissioner, CP Sadiq Abubakar, visited many parts of the city, including Bwari Area Council, to assess the situation of things as elections voting on in the area.
There were, however, some observed challenges like late arrival of election materials to some polling units.
But despite the large turnout of voters, voting began late in some polling units.
In Polling Unit 020, Kabusa area of Abuja, election materials arrived late with voting starting behind schedule. Our reporter who visited the area observed that voter accreditation started a few minutes to 12pm.
The INEC officials on duty only apologised to the voters for the delayed arrival but failed to give reasons for the delay.
In Wase Local Government Area under Kadarko District of Plateau State, election materials arrived at 1:32pm.
“We are just about to start now after being on queue since morning,” a voter who identified himself as Nice said.
Voters at Polling Unit 001 at Chief Palace area of Dutse-Sokale, Abuja, expressed frustration over the failure of INEC officials to bring election materials for voting.
This reporter observed that some of the voters started dispersing in anger after waiting for hours without hope of arrival of election officers.
Some voters in Kubwa, a satellite town in Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, were yet to find their polling units at about 12:00 pm. At noon, some of the voters were still looking for their polling units while some frustrated voters returned back to their homes after failure to locate their polling units.
A voter, Mrs Joy Adeleye, said she had been looking for the right place to cast her vote since 9am.
“I have been looking for my polling unit since 9am. I was supposed to cast my vote at Polling Unit 004, Usuma Ward, Kubwa, Abuja, but on getting to where I was directed, I was told to check somewhere else,” she said.
In FHA Lugbe, there were reports of alleged serious voter suppression in connivance with the police.
Most polling units visited by The Nigerian Observer started voting behind schedule.
At Life Camp Polling Unit opposite police station with number 035, which has a registered voter strength of 170, accreditation started around 8.30am as voters maintained orderliness for voting to commence. There was enough presence of security and election observers both local and international.
At Kado Raya Polling Unit number 017, total number of registered voters was 750. Accreditation started around 9.30am and the assistant presiding officer said the delay was due to a minor hitch with transportation.
Officials of INEC arrived Gwarimpa Village Primary School Polling Unit number 005 at 8:23am. Accreditation was delayed despite the presence of officials. The units has 997 registered voters. However, many voters were not able to easily identify their names on the register. There were also issues of identifying the location of polling units.
At 101 Polling Unit, Ward 10, Asokoro, there was serious panic as party agents raised concerns that the number of ballot papers did not correspond with the number of registered voters.
