The Governorship and State House of Assembly elections commenced on a positive note in many parts of the country, with voters turning out to elect leaders of their choice at various polling units.
In Yola, Adamawa State, the News Agency of Nigeria reports that the exercise commenced successful in the state capital, Yola the Adamawa, at 8am.
Electoral officers and voting materials arrived in the majority of polling units as at 7:30am.
At Adarawo, Makama, Damare polling centres in Yola South Local Government Area, accreditation and election started at 8am.
The same atmosphere prevailed at Jambutu, Bachure, Gwadabawa, Karewa and Bekaji polling centres in Yola North Local Government Area of the state.
The electorate were orderly on queue and the election was moving fast and smoothly and security operatives seen at every polling unit to ensure peaceful conduct of the election.
However, some units visited witnessed low turnout of electorate, compared to the last presidential election.
In Kwara State, there was early arrival of voting materials and electoral officers in most of the polling units in Ilorin, the state capital, as early as 6:30am to accredit registered voters at 8am
INEC officials, however, arrived late at the Ode Opobiyi, Ajikobi Ward and refused to answer question from journalists.
Most INEC staff deployed to the Government House, Ilorin polling unit reported for duty as early as 6:30am and set for the exercise.
Security was beefed up at each of the polling unit visited, while restriction on human and vehicular movement was complied with.
Early turnout of voters, their accreditation and early arrival of election materials in parts of Southern Kaduna were noticed.
NAN checks revealed impressive turn out of voters at polling units in Jema’a, Kaura and Zangon Kataf Local Government Areas of the state.
The voters were sighted going through the accreditation process as INEC staff attended to them, while security personnel were at the duty posts and voters maintained peace at the various polling units.
Anche Musa of Anguwan Kaya 3 polling unit at Anguwan Wakili in Zangon Kataf Local Government Area told NAN that INEC staff arrived as early as 7am at polling units in the area.
According to Musa, voters have been waiting patiently to exercise their civic duty.
In Kaduna, the state capital, there was early commencement of polls and large turnout of voters at some of the polling units in Barnawa, Kaduna South Local Government of the state.
At polling unit 022, Barnawa Shopping Complex, the Presiding Officer, Rijuwan Kolawole, an NYSC member, addressed the electorate at 8:05am, where he displayed the voting materials to the voters, urging them to be orderly and peaceful.
Kolawole advised the electorate to use their index finger in order to avoid void votes.
A physically challenged, Abrakson Shebanyan, who came to polling unit in the area with crouches to cast his vote, commended the early commencement of the polls.
In Kafanchan A and B wards, voters were sighted waiting in earnest for the commencement of the exercise.
Malam Sidi Iro of Bauchi Street told NAN that there was a general sense of calmness and coordination in the organisation of the exercise.
He also expressed the hope that voters would maintain peace during and after the exercise.
Petty traders such as food vendors, snacks and soft drinks sellers were making brisk business during the exercise.
At Ajao Estate, Oshodi/Isolo Local Government Area of Lagos State, voting could not commence as at 8:55am.
Voting was yet to commence at various polling units also.
The was no presence of Independent National Electoral Commission officials at various polling units and no queue as voters were scanty, while some party agents were seen waiting for INEC official.
In Benin, Edo State, accreditation and voting commenced on schedule in most of the polling units across the 18 local government areas of the state.
INEC personnel and materials arrived most of the polling centres as early as 7am with heavy presence of security personnel.
All 10 units in ward 9 at Eghosa Grammar school in Egor Local Government Area, materials arrived at exactly 7am, while few voters seen at the polling units.
Some of the other centres that materials arrived early included Ward 4, units 1 to 4 in Egor LGA, all polling units in ward 11, Oyagha Primary School in Estako West Local Government Area.
Other units are 7 and 8 ward 7, Iduwele primary school ward 8 units 4 and 5, Eguare in Edo central, units 1 to 6 ward 2 and all units in ward 1, Agenebode in Estako Central LGA of Edo North Senatorial District on time.
NAN reports that 176 candidates from 23 political parties are participating in the House of Assembly election in Edo State, with the about 1.7 million voters who collected their Permanent Voter Cards to cast their votes.
Edo has 192 wards across the 18 LGAs, 24 constituencies and three senatorial districts.
The major political parties jostling for the 24 constituency seats are the All Progressives Party, Peoples Democratic Party, Labour Party, Action Democratic Party and Advance Congress of Democrats.
Others are Alliance for Democracy, Alliance for New Nigeria and All Democratic Peoples Movement among others.
Accreditation and voting started at 8:20am at Alimosho Local Government, Ward A polling unit 047, 048 and 049 as the voters experienced smooth voting without any difficulties with card readers.
INEC officials and party agents turned up early at the various polling stations.
Before the commencement of the exercise, INEC officials and ad hoc staff did educate the voters on the voting procedure so as to reduce void votes.
Security agents were also seen ensuring orderliness at the polling units visited by the NAN correspondent.
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