The Independent National Electoral Commission recorded early arrival of election materials and ad hoc staff at several polling units across the Federal Capital Territory on Saturday for the area council elections.

As of 8:15 a.m., polling units visited within the Abuja Municipal Area Council were ready for the commencement of voting. Security personnel from the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps were deployed to maintain order.

Report has it that at Polling Unit 16, Area 8, City Centre, AMAC, the Presiding Officer, Emmanuel Miracle, said officials arrived at about 7:30 a.m. and were prepared to begin once voting time was announced.

At Polling Unit 15, electoral officers and security agents were also on ground early. The same situation was observed at Polling Units 072 and 073, where officials confirmed that materials were complete and ready for use.

Hellen David and Mohammed Umar, presiding officers at the two units, said everything was in place. At Polling Unit 073, the party agent of the All Progressives Congress, Salihu Abubakar, expressed confidence in a peaceful process, citing the early presence of officials and security personnel.

Meanwhile, despite a movement restriction order announced by the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, in collaboration with the police, vehicular movement was observed in parts of the territory.

Commercial vehicles, tricycles and motorcycles were seen operating along Airport Road, Jikwoyi, Nyanya, Kuje, Gwagwalada and parts of AMAC. No barricades were sighted in those areas. However, along the Kubwa-Nyanya highway, security operatives mounted roadblocks and diverted some motorists.

Most businesses remained closed across the FCT, although a few shops, laundry operators and Point of Sale operators opened for business in some parts of Airport Road.

At the Kuje Central Distribution Centre located at Science Primary School, election materials were still being conveyed to polling units as of 8:10 a.m.

In Aleyita, along Airport Road, polling units were largely deserted as INEC officials had yet to arrive. By 8:26 a.m., only five persons, including two party agents, were present.

One of the voters, Andrew James, said he arrived at 7:00 a.m. but was disappointed that officials were not yet on ground. He explained that six polling units in the community had been merged at LEA Primary School, Aleyita, for the election.

At Pilot Science Primary School in Kwali, voting had not commenced as of 8:33 a.m., although INEC officials were seen briefing party agents on election guidelines.

(NAN)