By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa
Voters at the Durumi I Polling Unit in the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) were left frustrated on Saturday after officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) arrived late for the Federal Capital Territory Area Council election.
A correspondent at the scene observed that the electoral officers did not get to the polling unit until approximately 11 a.m., despite a large crowd of voters who had gathered at the venue well before the scheduled start of the exercise. Voting eventually commenced shortly after the officials’ arrival.
The delay drew sharp criticism from the Village Head of Durumi I, Yohanna Ishaku, who expressed his dissatisfaction and concern that the late start could affect the voting process.
“I hope the INEC officials will not say that by 2:30 p.m., they will leave here,” Mr. Ishaku said. “It is not fair.”
Despite the initial setback, the polling agent for the Social Democratic Party (SDP) at the unit, Nkechi Chime, expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the voting process once it got underway.
