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Saturday, February 25, 2023

Large turnout of voters in FCT satellite towns as INEC officials, electoral materials yet to arrive 

The voters, who were seen in groups, were calm and patient after taking numbers in the order they arrived their polling units.

• February 25, 2023
Voters in Abuja awaiting arrival of INEC officials
Voters in Abuja awaiting arrival of INEC officials

Voters in Lugbe, Sauka and Tudun wada, satellite towns in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) turned out en masses early Saturday, awaiting the arrival of INEC officials.

The voters, who were seen in groups, were calm and patient after taking numbers in the order they arrived their polling units.

Security personnel were also seen roving the airport road and most polling units, while few persons were seen at deserted bus stops.

A voter, Friday Okwudili who spoke to NAN, said that he was encouraged by the turnout of voters for the election.

“The anxiety among the electorate is very encouraging; we just pray that our votes will count at the end of the day.

“I have been here as early as 6.30 a.m, and I am eager to cast my vote for candidates of my choice,” he said.

Omolara Thompson said she could not afford to sit at home today because she had to vote for the president of the country.

“I can’t afford to sit at home today, I have to choose a president that will rule the country for another four years,” she said.

Maxwell Ugo said that he had waited for today and could not afford not to come out to perform his civic responsibility.

“As a Nigerian, it is my duty to vote for any candidate of my choice, that is why I am here today,” he said.

Also speaking, Fedelis Okon, said that it was the right of every Nigerian to vote during election to elect a president of their choice.

Vans belonging to security operatives including the Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Immigration, Army, were sited around polling units to ensure adequate security.

There is a massive voters turnout, especially youths at most polling units in Nyanya, an FCT satellite town.

Although accreditation is yet to begin at the polling units visited, there is a large presence of young people anxiously waiting to be accredited to exercise their franchise.

During a visit to the polling units it was also observed that electoral officers had taken delivery of election materials.

However, some polling units presiding officers (POs) said that some political party agents were yet to arrive the voting centres.

The polling units visited include 005, 039,038, 024, 026 and 064,008.

Our correspondents observed the presence of heavily armed and unarmed security personnel.

The security personnel on ground at the units included Nigeria Army, Nigeria Police and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

Ijokpu Joseph , Presiding Officer for polling unit 039 said he was waiting to login into the INEC portal to begin accreditation by 8:30 a.m.

He also said that every material required for the conduct of the election had arrived at the unit and urged intending voters to be orderly when accreditation and voting begins.

(NAN)

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