FCT Polls: Quiet Streets, Slow Start As Residents Cautiously Await Polls

Several roads in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) wore a deserted look on Saturday morning as the FCT area council elections commenced at 8:30am, with early delays reported across multiple polling units and voters expressing cautious optimism.

The usually bustling Kubwa-Gwarinpa road, typically a beehive of commercial and social activities, stood empty save for essential workers navigating the thoroughfare.

Our correspondent monitoring the election observed only sporadic vehicular movement along the critical artery.

However, the eerie silence on the roads translated to frustration for some residents who found themselves stranded, unable to commute to their workplaces.

Following the government-imposed restriction of movement until 6pm, commercial vehicles were conspicuously absent from major routes.

At LEA Primary School, Bmuko, Dutse, in Bwari Area Council, there was no sign of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials as of 7:45am.

Instead, the school field had been converted to a makeshift football pitch, with several men and boys engaged in a morning match while other community members looked on.

The situation was markedly different in Gwarinpa, where security agencies had already barricaded entry and exit points by 7:45am.

The blockade stretched from Empire Energy filling station to Bakon Pharmacy, creating a security cordon around the area.

At Polling Unit 118, located in front of No. 86 Emeka Anyaoku Street, Area 11, Garki, INEC officials were sighted setting up their materials at 8:16am.

Two units away, at Polling 117 on the same street, electoral officers were still arranging their equipment at 8:20am, though no voters were present at either location.

Similarly, at Polling Unit 015 in Area 8, Garki, officials were seen organising election materials at 8:25am.

Here, two voters were observed carefully checking their names against the displayed voters’ register, a scene that would repeat itself at Polling Unit 016 in the same neighbourhood, where electoral officers continued setting up at 8:35amwhile prospective voters verified their details and awaited accreditation.

Amidst the slow start, a senior government official offered reassurance to nervous residents. Dr. Anuma Ogbonnaya Nlia, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Police Affairs, was spotted assessing proceedings at Polling Unit 015 in Area 8, Garki.

Nlia expressed satisfaction with the conduct of security personnel deployed for the exercise.

“We are here to also monitor the election, especially the conduct of police officers and other security agencies around the polling unit.

“We want to make sure that security is provided around here, that people don’t do things that are contrary to the Electoral Act. That’s why we’re here,” he said.

The permanent secretary, who had toured several polling areas, provided an upbeat assessment of the security situation.

“For the areas that we’ve gone to, all the security personnel are on duty. They are on duty monitoring what is happening. No chaos. Everywhere is calm. So we’re happy with what is going on.

“Even though there are no officials, some of them have not come to the polling units to set up for their materials, the police officers and other security agencies are doing well and they are monitoring what is happening

“FCT residents should be reassured. No chaos. Everywhere is calm. Everywhere is peaceful. The police officers are on top of their game and other security agencies,” he said.

As of the time of filing this report, accreditation and voting had not commenced in any of the polling units visited by our correspondent, despite the official 8:30am kick-off time.

Residents continue to await the arrival of electoral officials, hoping for a smooth exercise once voting eventually begins.

End.