Large turnout in Niger, Borno, Nasarawa, Sokoto

There was a huge voter turnout   in the presidential and National Assembly elections in Bauchi, Nasarawa, Kano, Yobe, Jigawa, Sokoto and Borno states on Saturday, despite the accreditation problems which marked the exercise.

Meanwhile, women (some in purdah) turned out en masse to exercise their rights in the Federal Capital Territory, Sokoto, Taraba, Kebbi, Gombe and Kaduna states.

Reports say registered voters arrived at various polling units in some of the states as early as 6am ahead of   accreditation.

Although the voters were not happy that   malfunctioning card readers slowed down   the accreditation process,   they exercised patience in their quest to cast their votes.

In Niger, one of our correspondents reported that voters turned out en mass at polling stations in Minna, Suleja, Lapai, Mokwa and Kontagora.

Electoral officers were at their duty posts very early but accreditation was hampered by malfunctioning card readers in some units in Minna, Suleja, New Wuse and Bida.

The News Agency of Nigeria reported that in parts of Sokoto North, Sokoto South, Wamakko, Tambuwal, Isa and Sabo Birni local governments, many people took part in the exercise.

In Kebbi State, voters arrived at polling units in their large numbers as early as 7.30am in Zuru, Kalgo, Bunza, and Birnin Kebbi local governments to cast their ballots.

In Yobe Internally Displaced Persons were among the huge crowds at polling stations across the state.

In Bauchi, a large number of people voted, in spite of the accreditation glitches in parts of the state.

In Borno, thousands of people, including Internally Displaced Persons in Maiduguri   took part in the elections.

Accreditation started at 8.30am as potential voters conducted themselves in an orderly and peaceful manner.

Hitches were however noticed in many polling units as the card readers failed to function.

When the voting began at 1.30pm, some polling booths had issues which nearly marred the electoral process. At Wulari 3 Polling Unit the ballot papers for the House of Representatives election were not available until 4pm leading to rumours of electoral fraud.

At Wulari Primary School, there was breach of security as a politician, who seized the PVCs of some voters, was beaten up and had to be smuggled out of the polling station for Gwoza/Agapalwa ward.

He was said to have refused to give the PVCs he collected on behalf of some youths to them on the grounds that they would not be voting for his favoured candidate.

The state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Samuel Madaki, agreed that there were hitches about the card readers.

The governor of the state, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, who spoke to reporters after casting his vote, said, “We have witnessed a massive turnout which actually showed the enthusiasm of our people, the passion of our people to partake in the political process. Our rights that was nearly denied was miraculously given to us, to exercise our franchise to exercise our rights to vote and be voted for.

“We went round Maiduguri and we have all witnessed the massive crowd that came out to exercise their rights to elect their leaders; I am so glad and touched.”

He added, “Well, we experienced some hiccups, with regards to the use of card readers, but even with this I feel it is a positive development.”

Our correspondent, who covered the elections in Lafia and other parts of Nasarawa State, reported that the accreditation of voters, which was expected to have begun at 8:30 am, could not commence until 10.10am in the majority of the centres following the late arrival of materials.

At some of the polling units visited by one of our correspondents, including Akuruba ward, Unit 013 Shiroma Ward, Unit 31, as well as Guyan ward, unit 01 and the state Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura’s unit, Lungun Wambai, the voters adhered to the rules and regulations, guiding the electoral process.

Speaking to our correspondent, one of the electoral officers, Mr. Segun Taiwo, said accreditation would have gone smoothly if the card readers had functioned properly.

Women, who spoke with NAN, attributed the development to the sensitisation programme by the council authorities who told them that they held the key to the development of the area.

A woman voter in Gwagwalada Area Council, FCT, Hannatu Mohammed, said, “Each time anything comes up, the men are always in the forefront. So now, we want to get involved in the development process of the country.

“Since we were told that election is the way to go, we have come out to participate in this process that will ensure the kind of development that we so much yearn for.”