Voting is underway in Ekiti State, southwest Nigeria, as residents turn out to elect a new governor in a closely watched off-cycle governorship election.
Voice of Nigeria correspondents monitoring the exercise across Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, and other parts of the state observed that elderly voters were given special priority at several polling units to ensure they cast their ballots without undue stress or prolonged waiting.
Election officials also extended similar consideration to persons living with disabilities and women in purdah, allowing them easier access to the voting process in line with the electoral commission’s inclusive voting guidelines.
Many of the elderly voters who arrived early at polling centres expressed appreciation for the preferential treatment, noting that it enabled them to participate in the democratic process despite age-related mobility challenges.
The Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), deployed by Nigeria’s electoral authorities, INEC to verify voters and curb electoral malpractice, functioned effectively in most of the polling units visited by Voice of Nigeria correspondents. Accreditation and voting were generally orderly, with only minor delays reported in a few locations.
Security personnel were visibly present at polling centres and strategic locations across the state to maintain law and order and ensure a peaceful electoral process. Their presence contributed to the calm atmosphere observed in many of the polling units.
Election officials commenced accreditation and voting in several polling centres in the morning, with voters continuing to arrive steadily as the exercise progressed.
The Ekiti governorship election is considered significant in Nigeria’s political landscape, serving as a test of political strength for major parties ahead of future electoral contests in the country.
