APA – Lagos (Nigeria)
Nigerians trooped out early on Saturday morning to vote for their preferred candidates for the presidential and National Assembly elections.
Reports from the 36 states and Abuja said that voters turned up as early as 7am for accreditation, which officially opened at 8.30am, while voting commenced soon after it is expected to close at 2.30pm.
About 87 million registered voters are expected to vote in Saturday’s election.
According to the reports, the outgoing President Muhammadu Buhari has already voted in his polling station in Daura, his home town in Katsina State, while Atiku Abubakar, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), one of the front runners in the presidential polls.
The report also added that Peter Obi of the Labour Party voted in his polling booth in Agulu in Aniocha Local Government Area of Anambra State. Obi is another front runner in the presidential race, while Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has also voted in Ikeja, the capital of Lagos state.
Former President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan also voted in his polling booth in Otueke in Bayelsa State. Speaking after voting, Dr. Jonathan urged INEC to improve on its distribution materials.
He said that he was at the polling station at 8.30 and did not meet any official and had to go back home. He pleaded to politicians to allow for peaceful conduct of elections and reminded the politicians that the country is not owned by them.
Although voting is expected to close officially at 2.30pm, there is no reported cases of violence across the country.
GIK/APA