Electorate in Kebbi have defied morning drizzle to exercise their franchise in the ongoing Local Government Council elections, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.
Checks at different polling units in the state capital, Birnin Kebbi by a Correspondent of NAN indicates that turnout of people for the elections was impressive in spire of heavy rain on Friday night, followed by light showers Saturday morning.
NAN also reports that accreditation and voting took place simultaneously in line with the guidelines issued by the Kebbi State Independent Electoral Commission (KESIEC).
In Birnin Kebbi, election officials arrived at polling stations before 8:30a.m. with necessary voting materials at most of the polling units.
The INEC Presiding Officer at Garkar Magatakarda Polling Unit, Tudun-Wada Ward in Birnin Kebbi, Malam Yanusa Shehu, said the KESIEC officials arrived before 8:30a.m. despite the fact it was drizzling.
“We have massive turnout of people and voters are still coming out to cast their votes,” he said.
He explained that so far, there was no any hitch even though the exercise was manual and secrete ballot voting, adding that the electorate were orderly and peaceful.
At Marafa Ward 004, Baiti Liman Poling Unit in Birnin Kebbi, voters lined up to exercise their civic responsibility.
The officials of INEC arrived at 7:30a.m. at Magawata Polling Unit in Marafa Ward, Birnin Kebbi, while accreditation and voting commenced at about 9:00a.m not as stipulated by KESIEC guidelines.
At 9:35a.m, accreditation and voting also commenced at Mai-Alelu Polling Unit in Nasarawa Ward 2, where Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu was expected to cast his vote.
Some voters at Dangaladima, 003, Dangaladima Ward, Shehu Zalaka 004, Gorabu and Zoramawa wards expressed pleasure over the early commencement of the elections at 8:30:a.m. without delay.
However, voters at Nasarawa Polling Unit 002 in Nagari College Ward, Birnin Kebbi, in spite of election officials’ early turn up, voters have just started coming out.
While accreditation and voting commenced at 8:30 a.m., the turnout of voters was also impressive.
At Makeran Gwandu 007 polling unit, Nagari College where Gov. Nasir Idris was expected to vote, the election officials have arrived as early as 8:00a.m.
Malam Umar Yalli, the Presiding Officer of KESIEC, said voting commenced as early as 8:30 a.m as stipulated by the KESIEC election and voting guidelines.
”We are witnessing a hitch-free voting exercise and accreditation and voting are taking place simultaneously.
”Voters have turned out en mass but because of the rain, they leave to take cover as soon as they cast their votes,” he said. (NAN)