Nigerians vote for National Lawmakers

Nigerians vote for National Lawmakers
By Hawa Noroh Ali & Samuel Okocha 

The Nigerian National Assembly elections have commenced with large turnout of voters witnessed in different polling stations.

The Atmosphere in Dutse, Jigawa State, Northern Nigeria,  is calm as all is in place to ensure that  violence-free elections take place In Jigawa with the  Police patrolling the town.

Most polling stations have been well manned by security presence and the citizens of the town are coming out en-masse to perform their civil duty

Reports say despite the high presence of security forces in Dutse, the roads are busy with people trying to get to their polling units on bicycles, donkeys and even the handicapped rolling and chanting in Hausa language, “za mu  tare, mu  zabi , mu jira,” meaning  we will converge , vote and wait for our votes to be counted .

In Izuoba, Imo State, South Eastern Nigeria, the Minister of Interior, Capt. Emmanuel Iheanacho, while waiting for accreditation, commended the electorates for coming out in large numbers to cast their votes. He said that they have showed their interest to ensure that they exercise their right to vote.

Capt. Iheanacho said that the situation was calm with the police on ground to ensure security.

He urged Nigerians to conduct themselves to ensure them that the election is free, fair and credible.

President Goodluck Jonathan in Otuoke, Bayelsa state, his home town, urged all Nigerians to come out en-masse and exercise their franchise.

Bomb blast

He sympathized with the families of those that lost their lives in the Friday bomb blast in Suleja, Niger State, North Central Nigeria, and assured that the government would ensure that everyone involved in the process was well protected.

In Buguma, Rivers State, South-south Nigeria, voters were in high spirits to cast their votes.

Call for calm

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Odein Ajumogobia, called on Kalabiri youths  in Rivers State to shun violence.

Ajumogobia, who sent town criers to the three Kalabiri councils, warned voters that the election was not a battle field, adding that youths should respect themselves and avoid fomenting trouble.

At Tundu Wada polling unit in Bwari, Federal Capital, Abuja, voters turned out at 7 a.m. local time waiting for INEC officials to commence accreditation.

Abubakar Abulallhai, a voter commended early distribution of materials.

Accreditations began early at Garki 10, 2, and 3, but at some polling units in Wuse, the turn out was low as voters were seen strolling into the units at 7 a.m. local time.

However, there was a low turn out of women at some polling units visited in Abuja unlike last week when they turned out in their hundreds.

​Proactive measure

To ensure that voting commenced on time around Nigeria, the Independent National Electoral Commission had distributed result sheet and other election materials on Friday.

The commission said it had put all logistics in place to ensure that the election was free fair and credible.

Williams