Polling station workers prepare card readers, ballot and boxes to start the Election Day at Unguwar Sarki polling station in Kaduna on February 23, 2019, as Nigeria votes to elect its new president. – Nigerians began voting for a new president on February 23, after a week-long delay that has raised political tempers, sparked conspiracy claims and stoked fears of violence. Some 120,000 polling stations began opening from 0700 GMT, although there were indications of a delay in the delivery of some materials and deployment of staff, AFP reporters said. The presidential contest will see incumbent Muhammadu Buhari (APC) seek to win a second four-year term against former vice president Atiku Abubakar (PDP). (Photo AFP)
Benin – Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo has commended the large turnout of voters’ and peaceful conduct of election at Ward 4 polling unit 19 in Oredo Local Government Area, where he voted.
Polling station workers prepare card readers, ballot and boxes to start the Election Day at Unguwar Sarki polling station in Kaduna on February 23, 2019, as Nigeria votes to elect its new president. – Nigerians began voting for a new president on February 23, after a week-long delay that has raised political tempers, sparked conspiracy claims and stoked fears of violence. Some 120,000 polling stations began opening from 0700 GMT, although there were indications of a delay in the delivery of some materials and deployment of staff, AFP reporters said. The presidential contest will see incumbent Muhammadu Buhari (APC) seek to win a second four-year term against former vice president Atiku Abubakar (PDP). (Photo AFP)
The governor and his wife, Mrs Betsy Obaseki, arrived at the polling unit at Emokpae Primary School at 9:55 am and waited for about 20 minutes in the queue before casting their votes.
Obaseki told newsmen shortly after voting that he was not expecting voters’ apathy as the APC had fully sensitised the electorate after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) extended the exercise by one week.
“The turnout is large and for the time I waited here, it has been peaceful.
“I am impressed with the security arrangement so far. We have not received any incident of election malpractice across the state.
“We have aerial and water surveillance. I am optimistic that the process will be peaceful all through,’’ he said.
He, however, urged the electorate across the 18 local government areas of the state to go and cast their votes on time so the process could be completed as planned.
Some of the voters at the governor’s polling unit commended the peaceful conduct of the process as well as early arrival of materials.
The electoral materials arrived the units before 7 am while accreditation/voting started by 8 20 am. (NAN)
https://newlive.vanguardngr.com/2019/02/abdulsalam-to-chair-jonathan-foundation-conference-on-peaceful-elections/
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