Large Voter Turnout, Early Accreditation In Nasarawa

Governorship and state House of Assembly elections in Nasarawa have witnessed large voter turnout in most of the local government areas visited.

Accreditation exercise also commenced as early as 8am in most polling units as electoral materials were distributed earlier than obtained in the last presidential and National Assembly elections.

In Lafia, the state capital, accreditation commenced by 8:30am in Gayam, Chiroma, Shabu/Kwandere, Akurba, Ashige electoral wards among those visited.

The same early success to the election exercise was recorded in Akwanga local government area where security agencies where on hand to ensure full compliance with laws guiding the exercise. However, little hitch was recorded at Alushi Ginda 004 polling unit where a cross section of voters tried coercing others to vote for Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidates.

Chris Aruma said he was thrown out of the premises of the exercise because he refused accede voting for PDP and lost his voter card in the process even though he had been accredited.

At about 9am when LEADERSHIP visited, no security official was seen at the polling unit as community leaders tried frantically to ensure peace.
It is also heartwarming that card readers are performing optimally as voters were accredited in less than a minute in most cases.

In Kokona local government area,  the exercise was largely peaceful as it witnessed large turnout of voters as opposed to Keffi local government area where low voter turnout was recorded.

When asked, voters who spoke to LEADERSHIP said the change they sought was for Gen. Muhammadu Buhari to come to power and were less bothered about who would emerge the state governor.