The Etsu of Jikwoyi, Prof. Bawa Jeta, has commended residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for their peaceful conduct during the area councils’ elections in the territory.
Jeta, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) after casting his vote on Saturday at the LEA Primary school, Jikwoyi, urged the residents to sustain the peace.
The royal father, who described the accreditation process as slow, noted that the elections were peaceful, while calling on INEC to improve on the accreditation process.
“I spent more than 30 minutes to verify my card before I voted. I think the system needs to be improved upon.
‘’I wonder if each voter has to spend 30 minutes to be accredited, how many people would have voted here today.
“We do hope the situation will improve and everyone will vote peacefully. Nobody should engage in violence.
“Let everybody vote according to his conscience. I have just voted for the person I wanted to vote for, people should be allowed to vote freely, and there should be no vote-buying.
“It should be free, fair and credible election with good record.
“It should not be a do or die affair. Somebody must win and somebody must lose. Let the person that wins thank God and the person that loses wait for next time,” Jeta said.
The traditional ruler stressed that he had talked to people in his domain to be of peaceful conduct during and after the elections.
NAN reports that the voting process was peaceful in the polling units visited, though the turnout of voters was low.
At PU 093 opposite Sister of Nativity Hospital, Jikwoyi, with just eight registered voters, there were no voters to vote as at 1 pm.
Also at PU 092 Cherryfield college, Jikwoyi, with six registered voters, there was no voting as of 1 pm.
At LEA Primary School, Jikwoyi, no voter came out to vote. While PU 089 had only seven registered voters, PU 088 was with six registered voters only.
Meanwhile at PU 084 at NUC quarters, Karu, there was no Canopy for ad-hoc staff, as the electoral officers were seen sitting under the sun.
The Presiding Officer, Aisha Kabo, said that they had been waiting under the sun since the election commenced, adding that no voter had come to vote.
(NAN)
