Election officials arrived early for the Kebbi Local Government Councils ‘ Election of 21 local government chairmen and over 225 councilors but voters turned out in trickles for the exercise.
Accreditations 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 8.20 a.m. with the necessary voting materials at many polling units but did not find large numbers of voters.
The KESIEC Presiding Officer at Garkar Magatakarda Polling Unit, Tudun-Wada Ward in Birnin Kebbi, Malam Muazu Yahaya, said although officials arrived at 8:30a.m. they did not see a large number of people.
“We have witnessed relatively large turnout compared to other local government council election in the past, and we are still hoping to see change more turn out as people are still coming out now due to the cold weather, ” he said.
He said there had not been any hitch even though the exercise was manual not with Card Readers or electronic ,and that the voters were behaving well.
At Marafa Ward 004, Baiti Liman Poling Unit in Birnin Kebbi, voters lined up to vote.
The officials of KESIEC arrived at 8:30 a.m at Magawata Polling Unit in Marafa Ward, Birnin Kebbi while accreditation and voting commenced at 8:30a.m as stipulated by KESIEC guidelines.
At 8:20a.m., accreditation and voting also commenced at Mai-Alelu Polling Unit in Nasarawa Ward 2, where Gov. Atiku Bagudu cast his vote.
“We have started as early as 8:20m, we are doing accreditation and voting at the same time, but we are still hoping to see voters as you can see,though they are many, especially the women, but we hope to see more coming out,” the KESIEC official ,Malam Junaidu Bala said.
Some voters in Dangaladima 003, Dangaladima Ward and Shehu Zalaka 004, Gorabu and Zoramawa wards expressed pleasure over the early commencement of the elections in spite of the harsh cold weather.
However, voters at Nasarawa Polling Unit 002 in Nagari College Ward, Birnin Kebbi, in spite of turning up early of election officials, voters have just started coming out.
While accreditation and voting commenced at 8a.m., the turnout of voters was impressive.
