Electorates in Kebbi State have defied morning drizzle to exercise their franchise in the ongoing Local Government Council elections in the state.
Checks at different polling units in the state capital, Birnin Kebbi showed a massive turnout of people for the elections despite the heavy rain on Friday, August 30, 2024, night, followed by light showers Saturday morning.
It was gathered 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 8:30 am 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, Yanusa Shehu, said the KESIEC officials arrived before 8:30 am despite the fact it was drizzling.
Mr Shehu said, “We have a massive turnout of people and voters are still coming out to cast their votes.”
He explained that so far, there was no hitch even though the exercise was manual and secret ballot voting, adding that the electorate was orderly and peaceful.
At Marafa Ward 004, Baiti Liman Polling Unit in Birnin Kebbi, voters lined up to exercise their civic responsibility.
The officials of INEC arrived at 7:30 am at Magawata Polling Unit in Marafa Ward, Birnin Kebbi, while accreditation and voting commenced at about 9:00 am not as stipulated by KESIEC guidelines.
At 9:35 am, 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 am without delay.
However, voters at Nasarawa Polling Unit 002 in Nagari College Ward, Birnin Kebbi, despite an early arrival of election officials, 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 had arrived as early as 8:00 am.
Umar Yalli, the Presiding Officer of KESIEC, said voting commenced as early as 8:30 am 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,” Mr Yalli said
