By Nefishetu Yakubu and Ikenna Osuoha
Accreditation and voting have commenced across the polling units in the Kuje Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) amidst noticeable low turn-out of voters.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that this was sequel to early arrival of electoral materials and staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at various polling units within the council area.
INEC officials and the materials for the exercise were said to have arrived at several polling units as early as 7:30 a.m.
The polling units visited included: 035 behind the Secretariat, 030 at Kauna Plaza, and 003, 004, 032, and 026 at Kayarda Primary School, Kuje, among others.
NAN reports that agents of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), All Progressives Congress (APC) and African Democratic Congress (ADC) were present to monitor the exercise.
At Kauna Plaza polling unit 030, though there was an early arrival of materials, there was, however, low turnout of voters.
In an interview with NAN, the party agent for All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Abraham Silas, blamed the voter apathy on the malfunctioning of BVAS.
Silas explained that voters were told to wait till 10 a.m. when the BVAS was designed to start working, adding that some had to go home, hoping to come back by 10 a.m.
The PDP agent, Mr Ado Shekwolo, however, expressed satisfaction with the security situation, expressing hope that the election would be hitch-free and credible.
Also speaking, a voter, Mr Dauda Attah, expressed optimism that he would have the chance of casting his vote for his preferred candidate and that the election would be peaceful.
Attah blamed the low turnout of voters to the configuration of the BVAS to begin operations by 10 a.m.
A voter at polling unit 003, Kayarda Primary School, Hajiya Fatimah Adeoye, also expressed dismay at the low turnout of voters, while an APC agent, Mr Sani Mohammed, blamed the situation on general voter attitude.
According to Mohammed, voters tend to develop nonchalant attitude to council elections than national elections.
Earlier, the Assistant Presiding Officer at Kauna Plaza, Mrs Jamila Sabo, described the situation so far as peaceful.
Sabo said that the electoral materials arrived early enough and that there was no security challenge. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by ‘Wale Sadeeq
