Voting will kick off any time from now across Nigeria’s 36 states and Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, as citizens go out to elect a new president and federal lawmakers who will steer the ship of state for the next four years.
In Edo State, the atmosphere has been peaceful as voters started turning out in their numbers as early as 7:00am.
The situation was largely the same across many polling stations visited by The Nigerian Observer in Benin City, the state capital, and many other places.
At Unit 7, 8 Ezoti Primary School, Unit 9 in St. Paul Primary School and Unit 6 Ogbe Secondary School, all in Ward 1, Oredo Local Government Area, voters started arriving in their numbers as early as 7:00 am. Security personnel were well stationed in all the units visited. However, there was no INEC official on ground at the time.
Voters were seen organizing themselves by giving out numbers in order to make the voting process orderly.
However, voters’ register was yet to be displayed.
At George Primary School, Unit 5, security agents were seen on ground. A police officer who identified himself simply as Supol Iyayi said they arrived before 7am.
Also INEC PO, Obinna Amajuoyi, stated that INEC official were getting ready with materials to kick-start the election. Ninety-six polling units were to pick up their sensitive materials from Unit 5 and move to their different polling units.
At Uwa Primary School, Ikhueniro, Umagbai Ward 5, Unit II, in Uhunmwode Local Government Area, voters started turning out early, but INEC officials and materials were yet to arrive as at the time The Nigerian Observer visited.
Voters were seen complaining of the non-display of voters’ register at the unit.
