Fred Itua
Last Saturday, February 23, 2019, Abuja was technically shutdown. Major roads, streets and boulevards, were deserted. Voters in thousands came out to cast their votes in the presidential and National Assembly elections.
The polls were initially billed to hold on Saturday, February 16, 2019. It was shifted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), barely three hours to the commencement of the voting exercise.
Contrary to expectations, voters in the territory were undeterred by the postponement. Instead, those who had hitherto given up on voting joined thousands of others to cast their votes.
As early as 6am, voters were already in their polling units. Many of them left their homes early to beat roadblocks mounted by security agents in many parts of the territory. Unlike in the past, voters were orderly and joined the long queues without any qualms.
However, there were initially hiccups in many polling units visited by our correspondent. In Bwari Area Council, a vehicle conveying INEC staff to some polling units, broke down. Daily Sun correspondent who was on duty, had to step in and ferried them and election materials to the polling units.
In Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), specifically in some polling units in Lugbe, voting materials and INEC staff didn’t show up until 11am. The delay didn’t deter voters, who defied the odds to wait for their arrival.
In Wuse, Garki, Utaki and Central Area Business Districts, there were initially hitches with the card readers. Many voters couldn’t find their names on the voters’ register, while others complained about the duplicity of their names.
There was a mild drama in one of the polling units when a woman wept. She protested the omission of her name and vowed not to leave the queue until the issue was resolved. She complained that she arrived at the polling unit at about 5.30am, only to be told that her name was omitted.
Many voters who couldn’t leave their homes early, had initial issues trying to beat the roadblocks mounted by security agents. Those who couldn’t stand the earlier refusal, turned back. Those who had to beg were eventually allowed to go by a combined team of security agents.
Daily Sun also visited the national headquarters of some political parties. Sadly, the places were deserted. A visit to the two leading political parties, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), showed that the secretariats were deserted.
While the PDP secretariat was completely deserted, with no security personnel on ground, the APC on the other hand had over 10 policemen placed at the entrance to the empty building.
Hotels were not exempted. They only provided skeletal services. Businesses, markets, shops and recreation centres didn’t open their gates to customers. Only hospitals operated. Pharmacies didn’t open either for emergency purposes.
In all, elections were peaceful in many parts of Abuja. There was no reported case of ballot box snatching. There were no reported cases of physical engagements between thugs and security agents, journalists were not mistreated. Food vendors who operated within the vicinity of polling units, had a good day.