Voting in parts of Karu and Nyanya commenced on a sluggish note Saturday morning, as the delayed arrival of officials and logistical setbacks disrupted the early hours of the exercise. Several polling units were still being set up as of 8:30 a.m., while voter turnout remained visibly low, with residents expressing frustration over the slow start.
It was observed that several polling units recorded late arrival of officials from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and low voter turnout.
At some polling units visited, INEC officials were yet to commence accreditation and voting as of 8:30 a.m., with a few still setting up voting materials.
At the polling unit located at Karu Chief Palace, residents expressed frustration over the absence of electoral officials hours after the scheduled commencement time.
Lucky Oskar, a Karu resident who arrived at his polling unit as early as 8:00 a.m., said he was disappointed that INEC officials had not arrived as of 9:00 a.m.
“I came here before 8 a.m., but up till now, there are no INEC officials. The only person here is an officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps,” he said.
As of the time of visit, about 20 voters were seen waiting at the unit, standing idly by in anticipation of the officials’ arrival.
Similarly, Esther Benjamin, who also arrived early to cast her vote, said she might not be able to wait much longer due to prior commitments.
“I came out early to vote because of my schedule for the day. I don’t know if I can still come back, but I will try,” she said, expressing concern over the delay.
At a polling unit in Nyanya, Presiding Officer Muslim Abraham confirmed that they were still setting up as of 8:30 a.m., citing logistics challenges as the cause of the delay when BusinessDay visited the area.
In Karu, at the Nngwar Ginar Health Care polling unit, another Presiding Officer, Sameeah, attributed the late commencement to the non-availability of basic furniture needed for operations.
According to her, officials arrived at the unit only to discover there were no tables and chairs available for use.
“We had to look for where to rent chairs and tables before we could set up. That also delayed the commencement of voting,” she explained.
The late arrival of officials and logistical hiccups contributed to low voter turnout in the early hours, as some residents were seen leaving after waiting for extended periods.
