October 05, (THEWILL) – The ongoing October 5 local government elections in Benue State have been characterised by orderliness, peace and low turnout of voters.
Our Correspondent, who visited some of the polling units within the Makurdi metropolis, reports that the electoral process started very late as voters waited for the arrival of electoral materials and officials.
It was gathered that the Benue State Independent Electoral Commission (BSIEC), tasked with the conduct of the election, only released the list of presiding officers and other shortlisted personnel in the early hours of Saturday.
At the NULGE polling unit, North Bank, NEPA headquarters, Walomayo, Makurdi there was a high turnout of voters with BSIEC ad-hoc officials carrying out their duties.
A presiding officer at polling unit 045 opposite Izara Mosque, Wadata said only one person voted as at 3:08 pm, while at the 005 Loga 1 House, opposite Federal Medical Center, Makurdi, 20 voters turned out and voted.
The BSIEC Chairman, Barr. Terkumun Tombuwua, while monitoring the exercise in the Guma Local Government Area of the state, expressed joy over the high turnout in the area.
He assured of the commission’s preparedness to deliver on its mandate of conducting a free and fair election that will stand the test of time.
Fielding questions from newsmen, the Commissioner of Police, Benue State Command, CP Steve Yabanet, who led other security agencies in monitoring the exercise, described it as peaceful and hitch-free.
According to him, prior to the exercise, the Command advised members of the public against anything that would cause disharmony in the state, commending Benue people for coming out to exercise their civil responsibility.
He assured that even after the announcement of results, security forces will ensure peace and order, and call on members of the public to remain law-abiding and follow due process in expressing any reservation.
