FCT election: Peaceful process, impressive turnout mark polls in Karu/Nyanya By Bola Oladipupo
FCT election: Peaceful process, impressive turnout mark polls in Karu/Nyanya
By Bola Oladipupo
The Karu/Nyanya corridor of the Federal Capital Territory witnessed a peaceful electoral process on Saturday, as the council polls progressed without significant disruptions.
Across several polling units visited, the exercise was characterised by orderly conduct, as voters turned out to exercise their franchise.
In many locations, electorate were seen forming queues and patiently waiting for their turn.
Electoral officials and materials arrived early in most areas.
However, at Polling Unit 065, Area 2 by Junction in Nyanya, officials arrived late at about 10:27 a.m.
They attributed the delay to transportation challenges, explaining that vehicles were first deployed to convey officials to more distant locations before returning for those closer to the INEC office.
While pockets of voter apathy were noticed in a few polling units, the majority of those visited recorded impressive turnout.
For instance, Polling Unit 059, Area D, Mopol Junction, Nyanya, witnessed a large number of voters who conducted themselves peacefully throughout the process.
However, the unit encountered a minor setback as it lacked an official stamp.
The Presiding Officer disclosed that the stamp was unavailable and that they had been directed to substitute it with the officer’s signature.
Party agents were present in many polling units, though some units had no party representation.
Those on ground expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the exercise but called for intensified efforts to boost voter participation.
At one polling unit in Nyanya, party agents reported that they could not initially locate electoral officials and had to proceed to the INEC Area Office in Nyanya to escort them back to the polling unit.
Security operatives, including personnel of the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Federal Road Safety Corps, and traffic police officers, were visibly deployed across polling centres.
Trucks belonging to joint security teams were also seen patrolling highways and inner roads to enforce movement restrictions and ensure public order.
