Accreditation of voters and voting cannot, of course, begin at the same time in all polling stations during the ongoing elections, an observer, Mr Idris Mohammed observes.
Making further observation in Jos on Saturday, he said complaints among the electorate are not also the same as any system deployed to serve a purpose “cannot be 100 per cent perfect’’, there must be some challenges, no matter how little.
Reports in some polling units have reflected some of the noticed challenges and commendations for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by organising a peaceful election and the use of Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).
In a polling unit — Karu Four CBN Junction, Abuja — the electorate said that they were disappointed that the polling unit looked as if it had been cancelled.
Many of the voters were seen at the unit and as at 10 a.m. without electoral officers, although security personnel were present.
Some other voters said that they had been placing calls to INEC situation room and all concerned bodies to address the situation.
However, at about 10.15 a.m., another voter said that he had got confirmation that voters had been asked to go to other polling units around them to check for their units.
A voter, Mr Idongesit Akpan, said that he had voted at the place in the 2015 and 2019 elections and he did not get any message to indicate that the unit had been changed.
It was a low turnout of voters and late commencement of voting in Gwagwalada Area Council of Abuja.
In several polling units visited, INEC officials and late arrival of electoral materials led to the delay in the voting process.
Many voters in Kotangora Estate, under Quarters Ward in Gwagwalada, said that they were disappointed and discouraged by the absence of the INEC officials as at 9.a.m.
Mr Prosper Iyeama, a civil servant said that it was demoralising not to find any INEC official at the polling unit.
“I was here since few minutes past 8 a.m. and up until now, no INEC official is on sight, no electoral material, nothing to show that they are prepared for us.
“Many people have come and are going back home, but I won’t leave here until I have satisfied my conscience,’’ he said.
In defiance to movement restriction, some shop owners in some parts of Kaura Local Government Area of Kaduna State opened for business while the Presidential and National Assembly Elections were on going.
Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) who monitored the election in the area on Saturday said that restaurant operators, welders, provision store owners and tea cafe operators were fully opened for business.
Security personnel were seen enforcing restriction of vehicular movement, while residents were going to their various polling unit to cast their votes.
The election, which began in most polling unit between 8.30 a.m. and 8.45 a.m. witnessed high turnout of voters, mostly youths and women, who came out mostly around 10 a.m.
Some of the polling units monitored are Unguwan Aba Dube 1, 2 and 3; 001, 002 and 003, Unguwan Usman Mutuwa 005, Unguwan Liman 017 and Uguwan Bankwat 018.
One of the voters at Unguwan Abba Dube One Polling Unit, Mr Solo Olu commended INEC for a well organised election.
Mr Hosea Musa, Counselor representing Manchok Ward in the LGA, said that the BIVAS was far better than the card reader used in previous elections.
Another voter, Mrs at Unguwan Liman Mr Sadiq Abubakar, also commended INEC for early commencement of the election.
In Lagos, Mr Francis Odulana, 87, a retired teacher, was among the voters who came to vote at Ward F5, Polling Unit 001, Ilamose Estate, Oke-Afa at Oshodi/Isolo Constituency II.
He said that he arrived at the polling unit at some few minutes to nine in the morning and was eager to cast his votes, noting that he had been a perennial voter and had voted in previous elections.
“The future of the country depends on the ability of the youth to select credible leaders; I have been voting as far back as 1956 and I was once a councilor.
“I came out to cast my vote so that the youth will also be motivated to come out and vote for their preferred candidates; the future of this country is in the hands of the youth,’’ he said.
The elder said that he had nothing to gain from the country again but came out to vote for the good future of the young generation.
There was a massive turnout of voters for accreditation and voting at Kosofe and election materials arrived in the polling unit at 8 a.m.
Mr David Ochogwu, the polling agent for Labour Party, told NAN that he was very impressed by the massive turnout of voters.
Also, Adedeji Adewale, the polling agent for the All Progressives Congress (APC) said he was very amazed at how fast the accreditation and voting process was going.
Adewale said he was impressed by the turnout of voters both young and old waiting to cast their votes.
He was also very positive that the APC would come out victorious at the end of the elections.
An elderly voter, Mrs Foluke Adeyemi, said that she was delighted by the early arrival of the INEC officials and how fast the accreditation and voting process was going.
Massive turnout of women voters recorded, laud BVAS in Bauchi North.
In Shira (Bauchi), there was amassive turnout of women voters recorded in polling units of Shira, Zaki, Itas Gadau Katagum, Jammare local government areas of Bauchi North in Bauchi State.
At Kofar Fada, polling unit 001 in Itas Gadau Local Government Area, women started trooping out as early as 7 a.m. and they were the first to be accredited, after which they started casting their votes.
Some women who spoke attributed the development to the sensitisation programme by politicians and government and lauded Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) for not taking much time.
Malama Sadiya Haruna said that they came out because they want to exercise their franchise and vote for their choice candidates.
“We are here to cast our votes and as well commended the commission for the introduction of BVAS for making the exercise go smoothly.
Salamatu Idris, a voter at Yerimari polling unit 008, said that she came out to exercise her right.
She said women had the largest number of voters in the country, forming up to 80 per cent of voters in her polling unit.
She said arrangement with the BVAS for the election was impressive as the entire exercise was hitch-free.
Another woman, Amina Galadima at Yana West polling unit 032 said she was encouraged by her husband and sisters to come out and vote.(NAN)
