Although the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had previously assured that voting would begin promptly at 8:30 a.m., some polling units within the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) experienced delays on Saturday. The late deployment of INEC officials led to a disruption in the timely commencement of the FCT Area Council elections.

This late arrival had earlier left voters uncertain about whether the election would be held in their respective polling units as scheduled. The elections also suffered a low level of voter turnout in several polling units.

The FCT Area Council elections are to decide chairmanship and councillor roles in all six area councils. Although INEC has consistently affirmed its dedication to holding free, fair, and credible elections, delays in the arrival of officials in parts of AMAC have raised concerns about logistical management at the local level.

A visit to multiple polling units in Ward 10 and Ward 11 (Karu and Nyanya) showed that as of 8:35 a.m., INEC officials had yet to arrive. At Polling Unit 16 in Karu Ward, only security personnel were present, while voters stood waiting patiently for electoral officials and materials.

Similar situations were observed at Polling Units 103 and 15, where, as of 8:30 a.m., there were no signs of electoral officers or voting materials. The absence of INEC officials created confusion among voters, many of whom expressed concern over the delay.

Officers of the Nigerian Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps were on the ground, maintaining order and assuring residents that the exercise would eventually take place.

Many voters had arrived as early as 7:30 a.m., in anticipation of the 8:30 a.m. commencement time earlier announced by INEC.

However, most polling units did not begin accreditation and voting until an average time of about 9:35 a.m., while some experienced longer delays.

At Polling Unit 22, Ward 10, Karu, election activities had yet to commence as of 11:00 a.m., with voters still gathered around the area awaiting officials.

Speaking to our correspondent, the Assistant Presiding Officer, Paulette, attributed the delay to late departure from the INEC office and inadequate briefing regarding their assigned locations.

“We left the INEC office late. My team and I have spent a lot of time here, but we haven’t gotten to our assigned polling unit since we were not duly informed of where to stay,” she said.

Similarly, at Polling Unit 103 in Ward 10, the Presiding Officer, Mr Jophine, explained to the electorate that the process started late because officials left the INEC office behind schedule and encountered difficulty locating their designated areas.

“We are sorry we started late. We left the INEC office, and locating this polling unit was not easy, but we are here, and we are about to start. We urge everyone to comply.”

However, the delay comes a day after INEC publicly pledged a timely start to the FCT Area Council elections. Speaking during an interview on Arise Television on Friday, Samuel Bassey, Head of Department, Voter Education and Publicity for FCT INEC, assured voters that the commission had put adequate measures in place to prevent late commencement.

“I guarantee and assure FCT voters that the polls will commence at 8:30 a.m. as stipulated,” Bassey stated.

He stated that, to ensure a swift start on election day, both the election materials and staff were relocated overnight to different registration locations for timely deployment to polling units.  According to him, the commission’s logistical arrangements were designed to reduce, if not eliminate, delays significantly.

Despite the delays, security agencies remained stationed at the polling units, urging residents to remain calm and assuring them that the election would hold.

While their presence helped maintain order, the continued late commencement in several units left many voters questioning the readiness and coordination of the electoral process.

Low Voter Turnout

The FCT Area Council elections in the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) also recorded a noticeably low voter turnout, despite a high number of registered voters.

A visit to wards and polling units, including Wards 5, 10, and 11, and polling units such as P.U 29, 21, 19, 003, 20, 18, 103, 15, P71, and P14, revealed sparse electorates, with many units largely empty during the scheduled voting period.

In contrast to previous elections, where voters formed long queues, only a handful of electorates were seen at most of the units visited.

The early hours of polling saw delays in the commencement of voting, a factor that appeared to have dampened enthusiasm among potential voters. While INEC officials eventually began the process when personnel and materials were available, many residents left without casting their ballots.

In several areas, movement restrictions were minimal, allowing residents to carry on with their usual economic activities.

Traders were seen displaying and selling goods in and around polling units, and commuters, including commercial motorcyclists, continued their operations unhindered. The calm atmosphere and lack of long lines may have contributed to the lower-than-expected turnout.

Several voters who arrived at their polling units were unable to vote due to discrepancies in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) voter register.

At Polling Unit 19, Ward 11(Nyanya), Mrs Patience Adatu recounted her frustration after discovering that although her name appeared on the register, her photograph had been replaced with that of a man.

“I went to different polling units to find my name, but I couldn’t. Where I found my name, I was 423 on the list, but my picture was replaced with a man,” she said.

Mrs Adatu described the issue as an error, noting that the unit had been her regular polling location in previous elections.

Other voters experienced similar difficulties.  At Polling Unit 17, Ward 10 (Karu), Giwa Motunrayo said she could not find her name on the voter list despite arriving early to vote.

Also, Danjuma Gift and Udeh Innocent also reported missing names on the register, while at Ward 11, Polling Unit 14.

Joseph Idris was left unable to participate after discovering his details were absent from the list.

In Ward 5, Setraco, Gwarimpa, some residents couldn’t locate their names on the voters’ register even though they were at their appropriate polling unit.

The combination of delayed commencement and issues with voter registration details appeared to have a significant impact on turnout.

The affected residents expressed concern that these administrative challenges, coupled with the overall low participation, could affect the credibility and inclusiveness of the election process.

As of the filing of this report, voting was ongoing in some areas, but the prevailing pattern suggested that several eligible voters may have been disenfranchised due to registration and operational issues, raising questions about the effectiveness of preparations for the FCT Area Council elections.

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