Voters in Karu and Nyanya axis of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), turned out massively on Saturday for the Presidential and National Assembly elections.
However, some eligible voters who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) said they had to trek long distances to get to their polling units, due to the restriction of movement.
One of the voters, who identified himself as Uche Okoro, said he wasn’t allowed to move with his motorcycle in spite of leaving home before 7 a.m.
“I live in Jikwoyi but my polling centre is on the other part of Nyanya (Polling Unit 020B).
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I have to trek to the place now because they didn’t allow me to use my motorcycle.”
“They are supposed to restrict movement, but how do they expect us to perform our civic responsibility if we can’t move?” Okoro asked.
NAN observed that heavily-armed military men blocked the Karu axis of the Nyanya-Jikwoyi Road and prevented motorists who are not on election duty from using the road.
At the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) Nyanya Polling Unit 020, security agencies were seen on ground as early as 6.10 a.m., while voters check their names on INEC voters’ list.
Party agents and independent observers were also present at the polling unit.
There was however a slight confusion about voters locating their exact polling units, as there were two units with the 020 code.
It was when INEC officials arrived at 7.50 a.m. that the situation was clarified that the polling unit has 020A and 020B.
At the Karu Chief Palace 001 Polling Unit, INEC officials and sensitive materials arrived at 07: 56am, as security agents were seen ensuring that law and order are maintained.
Accreditation at the unit commenced at 8. 17 a.m. but voting was yet to start as at the time this report was filed.
Other polling units in the area, including Karu 003 (Peche) and Karu Village 005, also witnessed massive turnouts and early arrival of election materials. (NAN)
