The immediate past Speaker of the Bwari Area Council Legislative Arm and former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chairmanship aspirant, Hon. Julius Adamu, has commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for conducting what he described as a credible and peaceful election in the ongoing Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council polls.
Hon. Adamu, who spoke to journalists shortly after casting his vote in his ward, 008, Katampe Village Square, said the electoral umpire had demonstrated readiness and professionalism in the conduct of the exercise.
“INEC has done well, and I can see that the atmosphere is peaceful,” he said.
“You can see there is no fracas, no argument. People are just voting their right choice of candidates.”
The former PDP candidate disclosed that although he initially contested under the PDP platform, he stepped down after consultations with party leaders and decided to support the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in his ward for the interest of unity and development.
“First and foremost, let me say I was a candidate under the platform of PDP, but with the consultation and advice of my leaders at the top, I had to step down for the APC candidate in my ward,” Adamu stated.
“God has His way of doing His own things, and so I have to step down for him for the progress and development of the people of the Area Council.”
Assessing the conduct of the election, Adamu noted that the process had so far been orderly, with early arrival of officials and materials at several polling units he monitored.
“We discovered that in some of the polling units I monitored today, officials and materials arrived as early as 6am and 6:30am,” he said.
“When you look at the system of INEC today, it is a fresh and brand new chairman, and I believe he will do his best, because the starting has shown that he is ready for the work.”
While expressing optimism that the peaceful atmosphere would be sustained through the end of the exercise, Adamu emphasised the importance of calm and orderly conduct by voters.
“There is nothing that peace cannot give,” he added. “By the time the atmosphere is peaceful, everything will be successful. I pray the way the voting is going on, let it end as such.”
Moreover, some of the party agents who spoke with our Correspondent lauded the Commission and security agencies for the peaceful and credible conduct of the election so far.
Glory Victor Onuoha, Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) Supervising Agent, observed that the election has been peaceful and credible.
“The election has been peaceful and credible so far and I pray it continues this way”, she said.
In his remarks, the New Nigeria People Party (NNPP) agent, Ilesanmi Adegoke commended the INEC officials for arriving early to the polling unit.
“Here at the Katampe Village Square (Chief’s Palace) election has been peaceful and calm, and the election is on going and we hope to have a successful election today”, he concluded.
The FCT Area Council elections are being closely monitored by stakeholders, with voters turning out across polling units in the six area councils to elect their representatives.