The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has tightened security at the Central Business District (CBD) as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Councils Election commences on Saturday.
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports INEC has its office in the CBD of the FCT and security agents have stationed at strategic positions and at the entrance to the Commission.
As at 7.30 a.m. police and other paramilitary vehicles were stationed at the entrance of the commission, while security personnel had taken charge of movements in and around the premises.
A visit to some polling units in the CBD, revealed that both INEC officials and election materials were arriving ahead of the election.
At polling units 007, 008, 005, 011, located in Area 2 Shopping Centre, security officials and election materials had arrived, while INEC officials were setting up the polling units for the election at 8.18 a.m.
In polling unit 006, election materials and staff were yet to arrive at 8. 20a.m., though security personnel were already at the centre awaiting their arrival.
A total of 475 candidates nominated by 18 political parties, including the APC and PDP, were featuring in the chairmanship and councillorship election in the six area councils of the FCT comprising Bwari, Abaji, Gwagwalada, Kuje, Kwali and Abuja Municipal Council (AMAC).
Election is to commence by 8.30a.m. and end by 2.30p.m.
FCT Area Councils Poll: Late arrival of election materials in Lugbe
Meanwhile, accreditation of voters in most polling units in Lugbe on the Airport Road was delayed, following the late arrival of INEC officials and election materials.
A correspondent who went around polling units in Lugbe Federal Housing Estate, Gosa, Trade Moore and Galadimawa reports that the accreditation which was supposed to start by 8.30. a.m., could not start as at 10.15 a.m.
INEC officials were also absent in most of the units as at 10.15 a.m. However, security operatives were on ground in most polling units visited with no visible presence of voters.
At Galadimawa Primary School polling unit, a handful of voters and security operatives were on ground waiting for INEC officials’ arrival.
Some motorists also used the opportunity to fuel their vehicles at filling stations on the Airport Road.
INEC had deployed 12,000 ad hoc staff to cover the election in the six FCT Area Councils of AMAC, Abaji, Gwagwalada, Bwari, Kwali and Kuje.
Large turnout of voters in Bwari for FCT Councils Poll
However, the FCT Area Councils Poll witnessed massive turnout of voters in Bwari, as residents expressed enthusiasm over the opportunity to vote.
Most voting centres in Bwari were filled with the electorate trying to vote for candidates of their choice.
Some of those interviewed expressed happiness over the election.
Mr Azu John, a resident, said that he was ready to vote for the candidate of his choice.
“I am excited that the D-day is finally here and the opportunity to vote for my candidate.
”We are out as you can see, we are waiting for the officials to start the process so we can vote and leave everything in God’s hand,” he said.
Another resident, Miss Martha Aboyi, said she came out quite early so that she can be attended early, saying that she believed that her candidate would win.
A commercial motorcyclist, Mr Ali Musbau, said he plans to keep his motorcycle by joining his friends to vote around 10 a.m.
INEC officials had arrived in most polling units in readiness for accreditation of voters, ahead of the election.
Large turnout of voters in Kuje for FCT Area Councils Poll
Also, the FCT Area Councils Poll, witnessed large turnout of voters in Kuje, as the electorate trooped to various polling units to exercise their franchise.
The voters came out as early as 7.a.m., with their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), ready for the election.
However, officials of the INEC were yet to arrive at the polling units, forcing the voters to form queues based on their time of arrival at the polling units to avoid problem.
As at 9.45 a.m. in Ward 001, Unit B, Kayarda Central Primary School in Kuje, INEC officials were seen trying to sort out the election materials in readiness for accreditation.
The voters were also checking their names on the voters list to be sure of their voting points, while security agents took charged at strategic locations.
Mrs Zainab Gbefwi, the INEC Electoral Officer (EO) for Kuje Area Council, told NAN that the election would be free, fair and credible.
FCT Area Councils poll: AMAC Situation Report
Meanwhile, residents of Jiwa, a suburb of FCT came out early in large number to search for their names on the INEC voters’ list for Saturday’s Area Councils Poll to be sure of their polling units.
A large number of those who saw their names were filled with excitement in readiness for the election.
Even those who could not find their names remained calm, keeping the atmosphere peaceful.
A visit to some polling units in the area, revealed that at about 8:45 a.m. security operatives and INEC were already on ground, in readiness for the poll, while in some units the situation was different as the officials were yet to arrive.
Election materials were also being deployed to the polling units, ahead of accreditation of voters.