By Joan Odafe
Residents of Maiduguri, Borno have deserted the streets as they massively trooped to the polling units to participate in the Presidential and National Assembly elections on Saturday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the residents had fully complied with the restriction of movement order by the Police.
A NAN Correspondent monitoring the election however reports that had not started as at 8:30am.
The Presiding Officer of Sir Kashim Polling Unit 001, Mr Solomon Jonah blamed technical hitches for the delay.
A visit to the centre where materials for the election were being distributed showed that many polling officials were waiting to collect them as at 9.00 am.
And in Lagos no fewer than 20 voters were waiting to be accredited at polling stations 24-04-03-050 and 24-04-03-051 in Festac 11, Amuwo Odofin area of the State as at 8.52 a.m. while the INEC officials were still setting up.
NAN reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) and materials arrived the polling units at about 7.40 a.m.
Jude Onwuemene, one of the voters awaiting accreditation told NAN that his name was on the voters list for 24-04-03-051 and he was anxiously waiting to vote.
“I believe this is going to be a rebirth for Nigeria, a new beginning and by the grace of God a new dawn,” he said.
NAN also reports that the police were on ground to maintain law and order. (NAN)
