The Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja Area Council elections, and bye-elections in Kano and Rivers states were influenced by voter apathy, a late start to voting, and accusations of vote-trading yesterday.
However, security agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) characterized the elections as peaceful and orderly.
Across the FCT, observers reported delayed openings in several polling units, low turnout in most centers, and incidents of vote-buying ranging from ₦ 1,000 to ₦ 10,000 per voter. Yet, there were no widespread cases of violence, and voting proceeded calmly in most areas monitored.
At press time, the All Progressives Congress, APC, according early results on the INEC Result viewing Portal, IreV, was having the upper hand in the titanic battle for Abuja. It won some polling units in AMAC, Garki, Gwarimpa, and Nyanya among others. On the other hand, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, jumped into an early lead in Gwagwalada.
The African Democratic Congress, ADC, which currently occupies the sole Abuja Senate seat through Senator Ireti Kingibe showed promise in Kubwa and Bwari where it won some polling units. The FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike of the PDP, who is backing APC candidates in the polls, was locked in war of words with Senator Kingibe as voting progressed, boasting that the outcome of the election would show “who is who.”
In Kano, in the absence of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, powered by Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the APC anchored by Governor Abba Yusuf, was coasting home to victory at press time. Governor Yusuf recently left the NNPP for the APC
In like manner, the APC was dominating proceedings in Rivers where the PDP, ADC and LP were not on the ballot
The polls were for six area councils and councillorship seats of Abuja, two state assembly seats in Rivres and two state assembly slots in Kano
The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, a coalition of over 70 civil society organisations, in its interim report jointly signed by its two Co-Conveners, Mma Odi and Celestine Odo decried what it described as “relatively late” commencement of polls in many FCT polling units, with an average opening time of 9:15 a.m.
The group said vote buying was observed in several locations, including PU008, 056, 057 and 058 in Gidan Mangoro Ward of AMAC, where votes were allegedly traded for as much as ¦ 10,000.
“In some other places, vote buying was discreet but still observed,” the group stated.
While acknowledging early commencement in parts of Kwali Area Council, the Situation Room said late arrival of INEC officials and materials delayed voting in other locations.
It also noted confusion among voters whose polling units were relocated at short notice. Though some voters received text notifications from INEC, many could not verify their new locations before election day.
On accreditation, the group said the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS, performed efficiently in most polling units, with an average turnaround time of about one minute. However, isolated malfunctions were reported in parts of Gwagwalada and Navy Town.
Security presence was described as “significant and professional,” with personnel drawn from the police, civil defence, immigration and fire services. In a few locations where minor intimidation occurred, security agents swiftly restored order.
The group, however, lamented the absence of assistive materials such as braille ballot guides and magnifying glasses in most units, including Karimajiji disability colony.
