11th April, 2015
Photo: Emmanuel Osodi
There was a large turnout of voters as accreditation began around 8.00a.m in most polling units in Dutse, the Jigawa capital, NAN reports.
Similarly, the prcocess commenced early in Bauch North where voters turned out in large number to get accredited for the governorship and legislative elections.
In Gombe, however, hazy weather affected the early turnout of voters.
In Dutse, some of the electoral officers were at the various polling units before 8:00 am while the accreditation of voters began at exactly 8:00am.
A cross section of INEC officials who spoke to NAN in various polling units expressed delight on the efficiency of the card readers.
Diya Alhaji, an Assistant Presiding Officer in Kachi 005 polling unit, said that the card reader machine was working smoothly.
Another Presiding Officer in Bokoto 001 polling unit, Malam Adamu Shuaibu, said that he has enough materials to work with.
Abdulrahman Atta, an Assistant Presiding Officer in Limawa ward, said that they were given three card readers for three polling units but two were faulty and he had returned them for replacement.
NAN observed that women also came out in large number for the accreditation while security agents were visibly present at the polling units.
In Dutsinma, Kurfi and Safana Local Government Areas of Katsina State, women and youths turned out in large numbers as early as 7a.m for the exercise.
The accreditation of voters also commenced on time as security agents were visible in all polling units visited.
In Azare, Bauchi State, election officials arrived early to commence accreditation on time as voters form long queues for the exercise.
As early as 8:02 a.m, election officials were seen attending to voters at Nabayi, Nahuta Taba, Doruwa Uku and Ambassador Dada Chinede polling centres.
Ahmadu Musa, a presiding officer for Doruwa Uku, said he had accredited 40 voters as at 8.22 am.
Sule Dan-Suya, a voter, at Doruwa Uku, expressed satisfaction over the exercise especially that the card readers assigned to the unit were functioning well.
Reports from Gombe indicated that hazy weather affected early turnout of voters, especially the elderly.
NAN reports that the hot weather recorded for sometimes in the state turned hazy and dusty on election day, thereby affecting movement, especially of the elderly.
NAN reports that there were few voters at Majidadi, Kofar Ajiya, Baba Nabirni, Dawaki and other polling units in Gombe when compared to the turnout during the March 28 Presidential and National Assembly elections.
The Presiding Officer at Kofar Yari polling unit in Dawaki ward, Malam Abubakar Badamasi, acknowledged that the turnout was low but expressed optimism that the situation would improve.
A voter, Malam Mohammed Ahmed-Ganga also expressed the hope that the haze not withstanding, more eligible voters would turn up to exercise their franchise.
At Baba Nabirni II polling unit, the Presiding Officer, Malam Abdulhamid Abdulkadir described the turnout as low.
The situation was the same in parts of Kwami Local Government where the voter turnout was also low, with only a few women noticed in some polling units.
However, NAN reports that in Kaltungo, Shongom and Billiri Local Government Areas, voter turnout was impressive as the voters queue up in an orderly manner as early as 7 a.m.
Accreditation of voters in the three local areas also commenced on time.