Voting for chairmanship and council elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) commenced early in the six area councils in the FCT but the turnout of voters was very low.
Many of the polling stations within and outside the city centre recorded low turn-out of residents for accreditation and voting.
When Channels Television visited some centres around the city, it was observed that electoral materials arrived before 8am in many centres but few registered voters turned up for accreditation.
However while some people believe that the incredibly low turn-out of voters is as a result of failed promises by the council leaders over the years, others simply commend the FCT INEC for the smooth organization of the elections so far.
By 12noon some of the centres in Bwari area council rounded up accreditation and commenced voting.
In other polling units in the outskirts of Abuja, the crowd surged, defying the extreme heat to ensure their participation in the electoral process.
Security operatives were helpful in some situation and voting went on smoothly as many of the electorates queued to cast their vote while those that had already cast their votes waited patiently, vowing to ensure they see process to its end.
Figures from most of the centres recorded thousands of registered voters but less than four hundred eventually casted their votes.
Inspite of this disappointing response, what is certain for these grass-root dwellers is that they have been guaranteed an atmosphere for a free and fair area council election.
Meanwhile the Commissioner of Police in charge of the FCT Mr Femi Ogunbayode has revealed that there was no security breach during the conduct of the f.c.t. area council elections.
Speaking to journalists while he monitored the election, Mr Ogunbayode said that police officers were deployed to polling centres to forestall any break down of law and order.
He also commended political parties for the conduct of their party agents at the various polling centres.
The Police boss also commended Abuja residents for turning out for the election especially in the rural communities and also conducting themselves during the process.
Abuja, the nation’s capital is currently made up of six local councils, comprising the Abuja Municipal Area Council, AMAC, Kuje, Abaji, Bwari, Gwagwalada and Kwali.
The major contenders in the local polls are candidates of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), All Nigeria People’s Party(ANPP), All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and United Progressive Party (UPP).
The PDP, ANPP, and ACN are producing the highest number of candidates with 74, 82 and 62 respectively, while the National Conscience Party (NCP) presented the lowest with two candidates.
