Alhaji Usman Yahaya, the All Progressives Congress chairmanship candidate for the FCT Area Council election, has commended the Independent National Electoral Commission for the timely distribution of election materials.
Yahaya gave the commendation on Saturday in Gwagwalada shortly after casting his vote.
“I have to commend INEC for a job well done, though it is still in process, but from what I’ve seen, I have no reason to complain.
“Election materials were distributed on time to the various polling centres, and elections started virtually without delay,” he said.
Yahaya expressed satisfaction with the conduct of polling officers, adding that they were receiving voters and doing all they needed to do to make the process peaceful.
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He also lauded the security agencies for their conduct and deployments in the conduct of the election.
“I also commend the FCT Commissioner of Police for the impressive deployment of police personnel in the various polling centres across the FCT.
“As you know, FCT is large; you have so many polling units, with different terrains.
“Although there are few complaints here and there, I think, to some extent, the complaints are minimal and the process is going on smoothly.
“So our prayer and wish is for the people to maintain themselves and be disciplined,” he said.
The APC candidate, however, blamed the low voter turnout in the exercise on what he called the disconnect between the people and the area councils.
“You see, the apathy is not now; when you see apathy, it’s from something that had happened before.
“Local government elections should be the elections that affect the people directly, but to some extent, it seems the connection between the people and the government at the grassroots is not that much in these areas.
“The cosmopolitan nature of the FCT area councils and the belief that participating in council elections will not make a difference are other challenges,” he said.
Yahaya expressed optimism that the situation would get better in the coming elections.
NAN
