According to preliminary findings on the INEC Result viewing Portal, IreV, the All Progressives Congress, or APC, was leading the fierce fight for Abuja. Among other places, it won several polling places in AMAC, Garki, Gwarimpa, and Nyanya. In Gwagwalada, however, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took an early lead.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC), which is now represented by Senator Ireti Kingibe in the only Senate seat in Abuja, demonstrated potential in Kubwa and Bwari by gaining a few polling places.
The FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike of the PDP, who is backing APC candidates in the polls, was locked in war of words with Senator Kingibe as voting progressed, boasting that the outcome of the election would show “who is who.”
In Kano, in the absence of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, powered by Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the APC anchored by Governor Abba Yusuf, was coasting home to victory at press time. Governor Yusuf recently left the NNPP for the APC
In like manner, the APC was dominating proceedings in Rivers where the PDP, ADC and LP were not on the ballot
The polls were for six area councils and councillorship seats of Abuja, two state assembly seats in Rivres and two state assembly slots in Kano
CSO Situation Room: Votes sold for N10,000 in Abuja
The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, a coalition of over 70 civil society organisations, in its interim report jointly signed by its two Co-Conveners, Mma Odi and Celestine Odo decried what it described as “relatively late” commencement of polls in many FCT polling units, with an average opening time of 9:15 a.m.
The group said vote buying was observed in several locations, including PU008, 056, 057 and 058 in Gidan Mangoro Ward of AMAC, where votes were allegedly traded for as much as ¦ 10,000.
“In some other places, vote buying was discreet but still observed,” the group stated.
While acknowledging early commencement in parts of Kwali Area Council, the Situation Room said late arrival of INEC officials and materials delayed voting in other locations.
It also noted confusion among voters whose polling units were relocated at short notice. Though some voters received text notifications from INEC, many could not verify their new locations before election day.
On accreditation, the group said the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS, performed efficiently in most polling units, with an average turnaround time of about one minute. However, isolated malfunctions were reported in parts of Gwagwalada and Navy Town.
Security presence was described as “significant and professional,” with personnel drawn from the police, civil defence, immigration and fire services. In a few locations where minor intimidation occurred, security agents swiftly restored order.
The group, however, lamented the absence of assistive materials such as braille ballot guides and magnifying glasses in most units, including Karimajiji disability colony.
